‘It’s done’ – Sir Dave Brailsford appears to confirm Ruben Amorim deal to Man Utd fans as he leaves Old Trafford
SIR DAVID BRAILSFORD appeared to confirm that Manchester United have agreed to bring in Ruben Amorim as their new manager last night.
Ineos’ director of sport told fans outside Old Trafford that “It’s done”, ahead of United’s Carabao Cup fixture against Leicester City.
https://twitter.com/RuudBalll/status/1851749747712790668Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy occupied the dugout at the Theatre of Dreams as United thrashed the Foxes 5-2 to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the cup.
But it appears the Man Utd legend’s time as boss will be fleeting, after Brailsford’s comments outside the ground.
Brailsford, 60, has long acted as the right-hand-man to United’s minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and is known to have a hand in negotiations for the club.
When stopping to take some photos with the Old Trafford faithful, Brailsford was probed for an update on the Amorim saga.
To which he simply replied: “Yeah, It’s done. It’s done”, before walking straight into the ground.
No official announcement has been made by either Man Utd or Sporting Lisbon at this time.
While Amorim himself remained coy on the links after taking charge of Sporting’s 3-1 win over Nacional on Tuesday.
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.”
It was reported yesterday by Sky Sports that Amorim has informed Sporting that he wishes to join United.
With the Portuguese champions under the impression that their gaffer has already agreed terms with the club.
United have already agreed to pay the £8.5m release clause to get their man.
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.
Despite Brailsford’s comments, 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.
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.