While Manchester United moved fast to secure the services of Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, this had been a decision months in the making.
If you used both hands to keep track on the sheer number of managers Manchester United considered before opting to replace Erik ten Hag with the 39-year-old Iberian, you would still find yourself a few fingers short.
According to reports, Man United talked to Roberto de Zerbi, Thomas Tuchel, Thomas Frank and Roberto Martinez over the summer, either side of that FA Cup final triumph in May.
Xavi, Thiago Motta, Simone Inzaghi, Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter, to name but five, had also been looked at during various stages of Ten Hag’s backside became increasingly charred in the scalding Old Trafford hotseat.
And while eyebrows were raised when The Athletic claimed that Fulham boss Marco Silva had also been sounded out for discussions by the new Man United bosses, their admiration for the former Everton, Olympiakos and – coincidentally – Sporting CP chief was clearly more than a passing fad.
Because, according to The Mail, Marco Silva came under consideration once again before fellow Portuguese Amorim eventually said yes and accepted Ineos’ proposal. Thomas Frank, it seems, were not the only Premier League club in danger of a United swoop.
Manchester United considered Marco Silva while pursuing Ruben Amorim
The report adds that Silva was among the leading alternatives had Amorim opted to stay put and guide Sporting to a third league title in four seasons.
Man United will reportedly pay Sporting just shy of £10 million for Ruben Amorim’s services. That, interestingly, is the same fee Fulham would have demanded for 47-year-old Silva.
Interestingly, The Mail claims that Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe was keen on bringing in a manager who, if not exactly homegrown, offered plentiful Premier League appearance. While that switch to Old Trafford represents Amorim’s first foray out of Portugal, Marco Silva has spent the last seven years in England.
He first took the Hull City job in 2017 and eventually ended up at Fulham in 2021, via Watford and Everton. Silva has since transformed The Cottagers into a stable, overachieving Premier League outfit. After 10th and 13th place finishes, you would be forgiven for forgetting that Fulham only returned to the top-flight two years ago.
A furious Silva was sent off as Fulham collapsed against Man United in a dramatic FA Cup tie during Erik ten Hag’s debut season but took some measure of revenge last term. Alex Iwobi’s last-gasp winner secured Fulham their first Old Trafford triumph since 2003 in the spring.
The Mail adds that, while Ratcliffe may have championed Marco Silva’s potential arrival, Dan Ashworth, Omar Berrada and Sir Dave Brailsford were the ones who eventually settled on Ruben Amorim.
Diogo Dalot excited by Ruben Amorim’s Old Trafford arrival
The former Portugal international was typically coy when asked about the progress of negotiations with Man United during his Thursday press conference. Amorim did admit that he is a big fan of the Premier League, but his focus remains in Sporting’s clash with Estrela de Amadora on Friday night.
Red Devils right-back Diogo Dalot is ready to welcome Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford as and when his appointment is made official, meanwhile.
“I mean, obviously he is a good manager!” Dalot adds while fighting tooth and nail not to give away any hint of an emotion.
“We don’t know if he is coming or not. We see the rumours, like everybody, but we will just focus on doing our job. What the future brings, we will be ready.”
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