Manchester United are closing in on Ruben Amorim but there appears to be some fallout within Sporting over his potential departure.
Manchester United sacked Erik ten Hag on Monday, bringing the Dutchman’s time at the club to an abrupt halt.
Ten Hag joined United from Ajax in 2022 and won two trophies at Old Trafford, securing the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
That wasn’t enough though and United’s poor start to the season resulted in Ten Hag’s departure earlier this week.
United already have a top target in mind though with Sporting boss Ruben Amorim wanted in the Old Trafford hot seat.
Sporting have confirmed United’s approach for Amorim and the hope is that he will be on board in Manchester soon enough.
- READ MORE: How Ruben Amorim could line-up at Manchester United if appointed Erik ten Hag replacement
Sporting players confront Ruben Amorim
Amorim’s move won’t particularly go down well in Lisbon.
The 39-year-old has been a revelation for Sporting, winning two league titles since his arrival from Braga in 2020.
Sporting fans have been in tears about Amorim’s potential move to United, summing up just how much he means to them.
Amorim still took charge of Tuesday’s win over Nacional but the atmosphere inside the dressing room may have been a little tense.
A Bola report that Sporting players confronted Amorim about his ‘imminent departure’ to United.
It’s suggested that some Sporting players were upset and wanted answers from Amorim about whether he is really leaving the club.
Some of those upset players are understood to be players who committed to signing for Sporting and Amorim over the summer, only to potentially see him walk away.
Amorim isn’t just leaving in the middle of the night though and has seemingly talking through the situation with his players.
The report also highlights that Sporting are trying to sign a free agent as they negotiate to bring back defender Luis Neto.
Yet with Amorim’s future up in the air, the deal for Neto is now stalling too despite Sporting already having Joao Pereira lined up to replace Amorim.
Ruben Amorim on Sporting unhappiness
Amorim has addressed the speculation surrounding players confronting him – and doesn’t seem too concerned.
The Sporting boss has told Mais Futebol that there was an ‘elephant’ in the room and he wanted to sort it out before facing Nacional.
Amorim accepts that his plays will be ‘disappointed’ if he moves to United, but that it’s just part of life and, ultimately, part of football too.
“There was no talk of anything, there was just a matter of getting the elephant out of the room before we started practicing set pieces. I explained to the players what was going on. Of course they will be disappointed with me if I leave the club, but that’s part of life. It’s about showing your face,” said Amorim.
There is a hold-up over Amorim’s move though as Sporting are demanding extra money for Amorim to take his coaches to United.
Amorim has lined up Carlos Fernandes and Adelio Candido for United jobs but Sporting are playing hardball.
United must work to thrash out a deal, but Amorim will want to leave Sporting the right way having struck up such a strong bond during his time at the club.
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