The Red Devils are facing two new demands to let go of Amorim

Could Ruben Amorim be the next manager for Manchester United? Will they shell out the cash to bring him to Old Trafford? Keep reading!

October 30, 2024
4:09 pm

In their hunt for a new manager, Manchester United is deep in talks with Sporting Lisbon to snag Ruben Amorim. But getting the Portuguese manager is turning out to be quite pricey.

Initially, United figured they’d need to pay £8.4 million to release the 39-year-old Amorim from his contract with Sporting CP. Now, it looks like they’ll also need an extra £4 million to bring in Amorim’s coaching staff. And if they want to skip Amorim’s four-week notice period, they might have to cough up even more to speed things along.

Sporting Lisbon knows they’re in a strong position and are pushing for the best deal possible. Amorim is interested in the United gig, but with Sporting holding firm, United’s negotiators, led by potential new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have their work cut out for them.

After Sporting publicly acknowledged United’s interest—thanks to their stock market listing—the club sent a statement to the Portuguese financial regulator, clarifying United’s approach and the £10 million clause they’ve offered to activate.

This announcement came just before Sporting’s win over Nacional on Tuesday. After the match, Amorim talked about the ongoing discussions but didn’t commit. “There is interest from Manchester United, there is the payment of a contract term, and when I have something more solid, I will come here and tell my position,” he said.

Amorim admitted the timing has been tough for him, especially as he focuses on Sporting’s current season. He mentioned he’d briefed his players before the statement went out to clear up any confusion. “It’s difficult. It’s almost impossible; it’s football,” Amorim reflected. “I explained to the players everything that was happening. There is nothing more to say.”

Sporting fans are understandably frustrated about the potential departure of their successful manager. “Of course they’re angry,” Amorim said. “They have a lot of affection for me and my work. I get it, and it’s totally natural.”

As United weighs the costs, it’s clear that bringing Amorim to Old Trafford will take a hefty financial commitment and some careful handling of the managerial transition at both clubs. For Manchester United, whose recent managerial history has been a bit rocky, the stakes couldn’t be higher.