Ruben Amorim has already decided this would be his last season at Sporting, but he initially wanted to see out the campaign before joining Manchester United before learning that was not possible.
Amorim was officially announced as United’s head coach on Friday and will start work at the Premier League club on November 11.
“At the beginning of the season, and the president is there to confirm, I had a conversation with him, and I said that, whatever happened, it was my last season at Sporting,” Amorim told reporters following his side’s 5-1 win over Estrela da Amadora on Friday night.
“The season started and we started to have a very good season. United showed up, paid the clause, above the clause and the president defended their interests. I never discussed anything with the president.
“The only request I made was that it be at the end of the season and they told me that it was not possible, that it was now or never.”
BBC reporter Simon Stone has credited Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrera with playing a ‘hardball’ approach for the club to secure their desired man.
Rumours during the week suggested Man City intended to replace Pep Guardiola with Amorim should there be a change in management at the Etihad next summer. Berrada would’ve known this, therefore, it sounds like United got in before their rivals.
Amorim confirmed that it was ‘now or never’ for him to accept the United job, and he wasn’t taking any chances because it is the job he wants most.
Berrera supposedly gave Amorim a dilemma and made him choose.
Stone’s post on X read: “Interesting stuff from Amorim. Omar Berrada playing hardball. Not prepared to go down long term interim route. Made him choose. Coaching staff arrival make Ruud’s position virtually impossible post 11 Nov.”
Ruben Amorim to bring his own coaches
It remains to be seen if Ruud van Nistelrooy will be kept on as part of Amorim’s coaching staff at United.
Stone suggests that the arrival of Amorim’s coaching staff from Sporting makes Van Nistelrooy’s position ‘virtually impossible’ after November 11, even though the Dutchman has pledged to continue helping the club he loves.
Van Nistelrooy is set to remain as caretaker manager until Amorim’s arrival, after joining the club in the summer to work as Erik ten Hag’s assistant. He turned down managerial roles to come back to Old Trafford and it will be a great shame to see him moved on.
