Manchester United told me ‘now or never’ – Ruben Amorim
Amorim will join United on November 11 following two final matches with Sporting
Ruben Amorim has expressed his desire to remain at Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season, but Manchester United made it clear that it was now or never for him.
Amorim will officially join United on November 11 after two final matches with Sporting, as confirmed in a statement released by the club on Friday afternoon.
The 39-year-old has signed a contract lasting until June 2027, with an annual salary of £6million, following United’s agreement to pay £9.25million to buy him out of his contract with Sporting.
His first match in charge of Man United is set to take place against Ipswich on November 24.
However, it has emerged that Amorim initially intended to stay at Sporting for a longer period.
On Monday, the same day Erik ten Hag was sacked, Man United dispatched a delegation to Lisbon to secure the services of their first-choice manager but encountered some resistance.
Following Sporting’s match against Estrela da Amadora at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Friday, Amorim experienced an emotional farewell.
He was visibly moved by the standing ovation from the home fans and felt compelled to explain how the move to United materialized during his post-match press conference.
Ruben Amorim said: “I can’t say much. It’s a phase where people feel what they have to feel.
“I wanted to explain the situation.
“At the beginning of the season, and the chairman was there to confirm it, I had a conversation with him and [director of football Hugo] Viana, and I said that, whatever happened, it was my last season at Sporting.
“The season started and we started to have a very good season.
“United came along, paid the clause, above the clause, and the chairman defended his interests.
“I never discussed anything with the chairman.
“The only request I made was that it would be at the end of the season and they told me that wasn’t possible, that it was now or never.
“I had three days to decide on something that would completely change my life.
“It’s not the first time that I’ve had my clause paid by another club. Nor the second.
“I wanted that club and that context. It’s just like Sporting. It’s very hard for me to leave.
“More for me than for any other Sporting fan.
“There was no confusion at all. We have to safeguard everyone’s interests.
“Far from playing the victim, I had to, in this dead zone, the only person who is here is me. I said I would stay for as many games as necessary.
“I didn’t say anything earlier because I couldn’t. That’s how the decision is.
“The club appeared that I knew that if I rejected it, I wouldn’t have it in six months.
“And I knew that in six months I would know that I wouldn’t be at Sporting.
“The only club that I wanted and that moved me.
“It got to a point where I had to decide and I did.
“Now I’m going home much more relaxed. I would have earned three times more with the last club that paid my clause. I gave everything I had for the club.”
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