Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has suggested that one of Erik ten Hag’s signings could become a key part of the Manchester United starting XI under Ruben Amorim.
Ruben Amorim has agreed to leave Sporting CP and will officially arrive at Old Trafford on 11th November as the new Manchester United manager.
The 39-year-old Portuguese manager has been widely praised for his work at Sporting CP, having led the club to two Primeira Liga titles during his reign.
United agreed to pay the £9.25m release clause inserted in Amorim’s Sporting CP contract after Erik ten Hag was sacked from the Premier League club last week.
Ten Hag oversaw a disastrous start to the 2024-25 Premier League season, with the Red Devils currently 13th with only three league wins in 10 matches.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed interim manager after Ten Hag was axed and will hold the fort at Old Trafford until the start of the November international break.
Carragher on Ten Hag’s signing and Amorim
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Jamie Carragher shared his prediction for what Manchester United could look like under Ruben Amorim.
Carragher believes that Amorim will attempt to replicate his Sporting CP style and will deploy three at the back and use wing-backs as part of his United formation.
French defender Leny Yoro arrived at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag after he was signed from Ligue 1 outfit Lille in July.
Ten Hag used the 18-year-old highly rated French centre-back on the pre-season tour, but Yoro suffered a major setback after he was forced off in the Arsenal defeat.
Yoro has missed the 2024-25 season due to a broken foot, but the United summer signing was spotted on the field last month as part of his recovery.
Carragher has suggested that Amorim could turn to the former Lille star as the right-sided centre-back in his three-man backline at United.
“Now, Yoro, coming in as a young player, he’s a project for the club,” he said.
“You’d want to work with him, get him in, young player, probably can deal with maybe the pace down the sides of it as well.
“So, but they’ve got the numbers if there’s injuries or suspensions, we know they’ve got that.”
Carragher on Amorim’s Man Utd defence
Carragher tipped that Lisandro Martinez could be a left-side centre-back in a 3-4-3 formation for Amorim and Matthijs de Ligt could be the main central defender.
“I actually think Martinez in this position, I’ve mentioned this before, it might suit him [as he] gives you that balance with a left foot,” he said.
“I can’t see De Ligt or [Harry] Maguire being in the wide positions; they can’t. They will not be able to cope.
“So, I don’t think De Ligt or Maguire could play in the same back three because whoever was in the wide position will get really exposed.”
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