Sporting Lisbon have gone public with Manchester United’s interest in their extremely highly-rated manager Ruben Amorim.
And for those who are already fully paid-up members of the Portuguese’s fanclub, it looks like good news as far as his potential arrival at Old Trafford goes.
Say what you want about Ineos – and it’s fair to say there were many a grievance aired as Erik ten Hag was kept hanging on for months longer than he needed to be – but you cannot argue against the ambition of Manchester United’s new ownership group.
After securing the best-in-class appointments of Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada, luring them away from Premier League rivals Newcastle and Manchester City to boot, Man United are set to raid Sporting Lisbon for Ruben Amorim.
Arguably the best young manager on the market. And most certainly a man who ticks just about every box imaginable, from his title-winning nous to his development of young players, his ability to set up a deadlocked defence as well as a free-flowing, free-scoring attack.
Sporting Lisbon confirm Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim interest
It was reported late on Monday that Ruben Amorim has verbally agreed to join Manchester United from the reigning Portuguese champions. Thus, following in footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Nani, following a familiar path from Lisbon to Manchester.
And, in a statement shared via Record, Sporting have confirmed for the first time that Manchester United have made an approach for the man who ended their 19-year wait for a league title upon his arrival at the Estadio Jose Alvalade back in 2020.
“Manchester United FC have expressed an interest in hiring coach Ruben Amorim,” they say. “And the Board of Directors of Sporting SAD has referred to the terms and conditions set out in the employment contract in force between the company and the coach.
“Specifically the respective termination clause and the amount of 10 million euros.”
Sporting open up on Ruben Amorim’s release clause
As such, Man United will only have to pay £8.3 million for the manager; Amorim is available for a bargain fee after leading Sporting to nine straight wins in the current Primeira Liga campaign.
There had been suggestions that the Red Devils would have to stump up around twice as much.
But Sporting’s statement not only clarifies the size of Amorim’s release clause, it also confirms that Man United intend to trigger it.
“Manchester United FC have expressed an interest in paying Sporting SAD the amount of the aforementioned clause,” the statement concludes.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility, then, that Ruben Amorim could officially be confirmed as Manchester United’s new manager at some point this week. Potentially, before Chelsea arrive at Old Trafford on Sunday.
“Few things could shake The Lions like what has happened in the last few hours,” Luis Pedro Ferreira writes in his A Bola column.
“Ruben Amorim is the kind of coach that Manchester United needs.
“Make no mistake; the Red Devils are one of the biggest clubs in the world. With a new management, United need a coach who knows how to turn things around. Someone who understands what a big club is, who can unite in communication and produce football that gets results.
“On paper, Ruben is right.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
