Ruben Amorim is expected to be officially confirmed as Manchester United’s new manager on Thursday, with his tenure starting during the November international break.
It is understood the Premier League club have paid Sporting an extra €1m (£840,000) over his €10m (£8.37m) exit clause for an early release from his notice period. There have been discussions around a nominal compensation for the coaching staff Amorim intends to bring to Old Trafford too.
It is anticipated he will sign two-and-a-half-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.
United CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth have been concluding talks in Lisbon. Senior Manchester United figures who were in discussions with Sporting flew back from Portugal on Wednesday night.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will remain in interim charge, telling Sky Sports after the 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester that he is “happy to help for as long as needed.”
He also revealed he wants to remain at United and be part of Amorim’s coaching set-up.
The incoming manager wants to bring first-team coaches Emanuel Ferro, Adelio Candido, and Carlos Fernandes, goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital and sports scientist Paulo Barreira with him.
The rapid developments over a deal left Amorim admitting that he didn’t know whether Tuesday’s Portuguese League Cup quarter-final would be his last game in charge of Sporting.
However, they have been determined to keep him for as long as possible and United have the comfort of Van Nistelrooy in interim charge in the meantime.
A former Benfica and Portugal midfielder, Amorim retired as a player in 2017 and just two years later he took up his first managerial job at Braga.
He then joined Sporting in March 2020 where he has established himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after young coaches, twice guiding the club to the league title.
He has also won the Taca da Liga – the Portuguese League Cup – on three occasions, twice with Sporting and once with Braga.
Why Sporting coach Amorim could be right for Man Utd
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate:
It has long been inevitable that Ruben Amorim would take one of Europe’s biggest jobs. Winning the title with Sporting in 2021 at the age of 36 all but guaranteed that. Repeating the feat last season only underlined his ability as a coach.
Sporting recognised that this was a special talent very early, famously paying a huge release clause after his spectacular start at Braga. They bet on his tactical mind, his fierce commitment as a player, but more than anything on the power of his personality.
In conversation with a series of Portuguese coaches, some of whom have pitted their wits against Amorim in his native country, we will explore his rise, what it is that makes him so impressive as a coach, and, crucially, whether this can be translated into his next job.
Read Adam Bate’s Ruben Amorim analysis here.
Man Utd’s next six fixtures
- November 3: Chelsea (h) 4.30pm, Premier League – live on Sky Sports
- November 7: PAOK (h) 8pm, Europa League
- November 10: Leicester (h) 2pm, Premier League
- November 24: Ipswich (a) 4.30pm, Premier League – live on Sky Sports
- November 28: Bodo/Glimt (h) 8pm, Europa League
- November 30: Everton (h) 1.30pm, Premier League
