Ruben Amorim: Manchester United target says ‘decision made’ over future plans - 'Soap opera coming to an end'
By Flo Clifford
Updated 31/10/2024 at 20:09 GMT
Ruben Amorim has said the "soap opera" surrounding his much-discussed move from Sporting CP to manage Manchester United will soon come to an end, telling media to expect "clarification" after his club's league game against Estrela on Friday. The Portuguese coach said that negotiations were ongoing as Ineos seek to steady the United ship following Erik ten Hag's sacking on Monday.
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Ruben Amorim's much-anticipated move to Manchester United remains up in the air, with the manager suggesting no announcement will be made until after Sporting CP's game on Friday - but saying that the "soap opera" will soon conclude.
With rumours swirling over the proposed deal, the 39-year-old told a press conference to wait for "clarification" later in the week, amid widespread reports that his appointment as manager could be delayed until after the November international break.
The Sporting coach was asked about the negotiations before his side's next Primeira Liga game, against Estrela, with the Lisbon giants reportedly keen to retain him for an important run of upcoming fixtures this side of the break.
The 39-year-old is expected to make sweeping backroom changes at Old Trafford, bringing with him some key figures from Sporting, with the financial compensation involved also proving a stumbling block.
Speaking to the media at the press conference, Amorim said in Portuguese: "It's difficult to focus on the games, but I'm managing to do so.
"The soap opera is coming to an end, let's say. The fact that I can't be so clear creates a lot of difficulty for me."
In response to questions asked by English press, he said: "It's a negotiation between two clubs. It's never easy, even with the [release] clauses. They have to talk.
"We will have clarification after the game [on Friday against Estrela], it will be clear. So it's one more day and after the game tomorrow, we will have a decision made."
United sacked Erik ten Hag on Monday, with the club moving quickly to secure a replacement, but discussions around Amorim's release clause and the amount of gardening leave available to him have complicated things.
"The situation is very difficult," Amorim continued in Portuguese. "When I don't know what to say at a certain point, it makes everything more difficult.
"When I'm very direct, it's much easier. Uncertainty creates a lot of difficulty for me and I have communication problems like any coach.
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"What makes me most nervous is very clear, the whole situation itself. Everything around me makes me very nervous."
Sporting - who are currently leading in the Portuguese top flight - play Estrela on Friday, before an important UEFA Champions League date with Manchester City and a league game against Amorim's previous club, Braga, before the international break begins.
"I will talk at the end of the game. I want the team to focus. I promise that at the end of the game I will talk about it.
"Talking about it now is further destabilising for the squad," Amorim added, although he did diplomatically say that he liked "everything" about the Premier League.
"I think that in everyone's life, there are times when we're doing really well, but then we want something more, maybe to prove something more," he added, on the attraction of the move to Manchester.
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"But then we don't know if we're taking a different step and ruining everything, but everyone feels that way."
If he takes charge of United in November, his first game will likely be against Ipswich Town, whose manager Kieran McKenna was rumoured to be a top contender for the Old Trafford top job in the summer.
Sporting have insisted that a deal has not been finalised, while United have officially refused to comment, although board member Sir Dave Brailsford told supporters "it's done" as he posed for pictures before Wednesday's League Cup win over Leicester City.
United have temporarily installed former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, a member of Ten Hag's backroom staff, in the dugout, with the Dutchman overseeing that chaotic 5-2 victory.
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Lopetegui 'wishes the best' for Ten Hag
With United in 14th place in the Premier League, winless in the Europa League and suffering their worst-ever start to the domestic season, many saw Ten Hag as destined for the exit.
But several managerial colleagues have expressed their sympathy for the Dutchman, including City's Pep Guardiola, with West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui adding his name to the chorus on Thursday.
The Spaniard's side may have accelerated Ten Hag's exit with their 2-1 win at the weekend.
Lopetegui said: "I wish the best for him. He did very good work and he's a very good coach. I understand these kind of moments. I'm sure that very soon he is going to be working again, for sure."
The Red Devils' next Premier League fixture is at home against Chelsea on Sunday.
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