Ruben Amorim stated on Tuesday that “nothing is decided yet” regarding his potential move to Manchester United, who have identified him as their top candidate to succeed the recently sacked manager Erik ten Hag.
The decision to part ways with Ten Hag came after a disappointing 2-1 loss to West Ham, leaving Manchester United in 14th place in the Premier League. This marked the end of Ten Hag's two-year tenure at the club.
Amorim has quickly emerged as the leading contender for the position, with reports indicating that Manchester United is prepared to activate his release clause of 10 million euros (£8.3 million, $10.8 million). A statement from Sporting Lisbon confirmed this interest.
After Sporting's League Cup victory over Nacional, Amorim was cautious when asked if it could be his final match with the club, stating, “Nobody knows whether this was my farewell match. Nothing is decided yet,” according to sports daily A Bola.
Despite significant investment in the transfer market over the summer, Manchester United has struggled, winning only one of their last eight matches across all competitions. Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been appointed as interim manager, while the club appears to be focusing on Amorim, recognized as one of Europe’s promising young coaches.
Amorim has achieved notable success with Sporting, winning two Portuguese league titles since his appointment in March 2020. He had previously downplayed speculation about his future, expressing pride in his role at Sporting Lisbon.
Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler, a young manager in the Premier League, commented on Amorim’s achievements, noting his age and success in Portugal. Amorim was also linked to the managerial position at Liverpool earlier this year, but the role ultimately went to Dutch coach Arne Slot.
The scrutiny surrounding Ten Hag’s position had intensified, especially after United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe explored options for other managers. Despite retaining Ten Hag following an internal review at the end of the previous season, the club has shown little improvement this year.
Ten Hag, who joined Manchester United in May 2022, defended his record, highlighting the two trophies won in his two full seasons. The club ended a six-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup in 2023.
However, injuries to key players and a lack of impact from high-profile signings have contributed to the team's struggles. Manchester United faced early exits from the Champions League and experienced a series of defeats at Old Trafford last season.
Ten Hag had been backed in the transfer market, with expenditures exceeding £600 million ($778 million), yet the team’s performance has continued to decline since the retirement of legendary manager Alex Ferguson in 2013.
In a recent interview, Ten Hag emphasized the importance of winning trophies, stating, “If you win a trophy in pro football, that is most important because that is what the fans expect and what we expect, to win a trophy.”
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