This Friday, while Sporting largely won against Estrela da Amadora in the championship (5-1), Ruben Amorim spoke at length about his departure to Manchester United.
It was almost a goodbye. This Friday evening, Ruben Amorim played what will remain as his penultimate match at the Estadio José Alvalade in the colors of Sporting. In a few days, the Portuguese technician will join Manchester United to write a new page in his young and very promising career.
It was now or never
A surprising decision to say the least. Undisputed leader of the Portuguese championship, but also well on his way to reaching the round of 16 of the Champions League, Ruben Amorim will thus cede his post at the head of Sporting. Indeed, the Portuguese coach accepted Manchester United's offer, while the English club paid its release clause.
At a press conference, the rising star of Portuguese coaching returned to what motivated this sudden choice, which came in the middle of a season marked by hopes of a second consecutive championship title. “At first, I asked that this operation only take place at the end of this season”declared the one who also assured that he had reached an agreement with his management, stipulating that he was currently playing his last season in Lisbon.
“I was made clear that it was now or never. I had barely three days to make a final decision, and that’s what I did”declared the future coach of the Red Devils before adding: “If I refused, I probably wouldn't have had any other opportunities to join Manchester United over the next few months. I didn’t want to live with this regret.”
No financial choice for Ruben Amorim
By moving from Sporting Leões to Manchester Devils, Ruben Amorim takes a big step forward in his career. A change in dimension, which will also allow it to access new perspectives on the financial level. Indeed, with the upcoming transfer, the Portuguese technician will obtain a salary significantly higher than that which he could envisage in his hometown.
However, the Portuguese specified that this financial factor was not an argument to motivate this sudden change of direction. According to his comments, Ruben Amorim would have already refused, in the past, salaries “three times higher” what Manchester United will offer him during his future mandate.
A favorable context?
Indeed, the Red Devils are not the first to be interested in the profile of the Portuguese coach. In his press conference, the strong man of Sporting revealed that Manchester United was neither the first nor the second club wishing to pay its release clause, estimated at 10 million euros. However, it is in Manchester that Ruben Amorim has decided to make a new start.
A choice which can also be explained by the current context of Manchester United. Thirteenth in the Premier League after nine days, the ogre of English football is in the process of rebuilding after several difficult years. At Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim will thus be able to become a true architect of the Mancunian revival, as he has perfectly known how to do on the Lisbon side, since his arrival at Sporting. It remains to be seen whether the man we now consider to be one of the greatest promises in coaching on a global scale will manage to repeat such a performance, within the best championship on the planet.
Alexandre Ribeiro launched the Trivela.fr site in 2019 and today runs it alongside his colleagues. Passionate about Portuguese football as a whole, and in particular the Portuguese national team, it is with all his energy and involvement that he brings this media to life on a daily basis.
