Ruben Amorim had a very strong take on re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo when star demanded Man Utd exit

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Erik ten Hag made a number of big decisions as Manchester United manager, starting with axing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag had a near impossible situation when he took over in 2022.

Despite praising Cristiano Ronaldo in his opening press conference, Ten Hag quickly learned that the legendary striker was desperate to leave.

Ronaldo was disenfranchised with United’s terrible 2021/22 season and wanted to fight for titles. His decision had been made.

Manchester United were not desperate to let him leave, while the big problem was that no bids were received from top European clubs.

Ronaldo manufactured his own exit in November 2022. He had fallen out with Erik ten Hag by this point and left as a free agent, eventually joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

Ruben Amorim and Sporting were offered Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes sought out potential clubs for his client during summer 2022.

Bayern Munich were a high-profile club to examine the possibility and decided against it.

One option put forward was for Ronaldo to re-sign with the club Manchester United first signed him from in 2003, Portuguese side Sporting.

The financials would have made a deal complicated due to Ronaldo’s high wages, but there was some merit to the idea of returning to his homeland, ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

A move failed to get off the ground, with The Times claiming Sporting manager and future Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim was not keen.

“Ruben Amorim has intimated that he might walk out on his contract were Ronaldo signed,” the newspaper reported.

Amorim went on to win the league title with Sporting in 2023/24, his second with the club, becoming the first manager of the club to win multiple titles since the early 1950s.

Amorim impressed Ronaldo from afar

Cristiano Ronaldo has some admiration for Ruben Amorim despite the manager’s opposition to signing him.

According to BBC Sport, Portuguese football writer Marcus Alves described Amorim as “Eloquent and outgoing.”

He continues: “Amorim is irresistible and dominates the words in such a way that Cristiano Ronaldo used to call him ‘poet’ in the national team.”

Yet it is Amorim’s headstrong personality which really stands out, with his stance on opposing bringing Ronaldo back to the club.

Amorim recognised the problems it could cause for his vision at Sporting, just like how Erik ten Hag decided his Manchester United were better off without Ronaldo as a starter.

While Amorim and Ten Hag are different in their tactics and philosophies, both had the personality and conviction when it came to big decisions, and this is a trait United want in any manager.