SPORTING LISBON believe that Ruben Amorim’s switch to Manchester United is a done deal, according to Sky Sports.
Amorim looks set to fill Erik ten Hag’s seat at Old Trafford after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday.
Amorim, 39, was made the number one target for Man Utd earlier this week and now it seems as though he wants the deal just as much.
According to Sky Sports, Amorim has told his current employers that he wants to leave and take up the job with the Red Devils.
Sporting are also said to believe that Amorim has agreed terms with Man Utd.
United have already agreed to pay the £8.5m release clause to get their man.
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And could have to pay another £4.1m on top of that to get hold of Amorim’s coaching staff too.
The Portuguese giants want extra cash to release three trusted members of Amorim’s backroom staff
The tactician wants to take Sporting’s assistant manager Adelio Candido, assistant coach Carlos Fernandes and goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital with him to Old Trafford.
Man Utd execs are understood to be hopeful that Amorim will be the manager for their clash with Chelsea this weekend.
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United play Leicester City in the Carabao Cup tonight, before hosting Chelsea in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday.
However, it’s not yet known if Amorim will be in the dugout for the game against the Blues.
The Portuguese gaffer could watch on from the stands while interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge in the technical area.
However, reports in Portugal claim that Amorim will complete a 30-day notice period before joining Man Utd.
Portuguese outlet Record have suggested that Amorim will remain as the Sporting boss until the next international break.
That would mean that he is still in charge of the Lisbon club for another three games – including a Champions League clash with Manchester City.
While it would mean his first game as United boss wouldn’t come until November 24, when the Red Devils travel to face Ipswich Town.
Amorim was in the dugout for Sporting’s 3-1 win over Nacional in the Portuguese league cup quarterfinal last night.
Sporting fans gave their gaffer a mixed reception with supporters split on the rumours of his potential exit from Lisbon.
The tactician headed straight down the tunnel at full-time, not acknowledging the support.
While he refused to open up on his future in his post-match press conference.
He said: “Nothing to say yet, no announcement to make. Now I have nothing to say, we are here carrying out analysis.
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“Everything I say will only create more noise. There is nothing to say about the matter. There is the statement, everyone knows. It was said by the club.
“Besides, we don’t know the details for sure. We’ll see. It will go through my decision as the statement said. But saying half things now doesn’t seem best to me.”
Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man Utd
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
