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Reuben Amorim They say manchester After requesting to end the season United told him it would be “now or never”. sporting Instead of immediately taking over the only club he had any heart to join.
a week that began eric ten hag He was sacked after a disappointing start to his third season in charge, which ended with the exciting appointment of the talented 39-year-old as head coach.
Amorim has agreed a contract until June 2027 with the option of a further year, and will start work at United on Monday 11 November and oversee Sporting’s final matches before the international break.
East portugal The international leaves in an 11 million euro (£9.2 million) deal and gave an in-depth look at the situation after masterminding Friday’s 5-1 league win at home to Estrela da Amadora.
“I spoke to the president (Frederico Varandas) and I said that no matter what happens, this will be my last season with Sporting,” Amorim said in the post-match press conference. “The President is here. He can confirm this.
“The season started, we know we started very well. And then this situation happened with Manchester United.
“Manchester United appears, they pay above the compensation provision and the chairman protects the interests of the club. I never discussed this deal with the President.
“The only question I asked was to leave at the end of the season. For three days I said I wanted to stay until the end of the season, but then I was told that was not possible.
“It’s now or never, otherwise Manchester will pursue another option.
There comes a time when I have to take a step forward in my career. what happened
Reuben Amorim
“So, I had three days to make up my mind, to make a decision that would fundamentally change my life. But I had three days to take this decision and that’s what I did.
“I have other opportunities – the president and (director of football) Hugo Viana can confirm that. This is not the first or second time that I have been requested by another team and I do not want another team.
“After Sporting I wanted that, Manchester, and I want that context because that context allows me to do things my own way and the club believes in me that way. It’s just like sporting.
“There comes a time when I have to take a step forward in my career. What happened?
“It was harder for me than any sporting fan, believe me, but I had to do it.”
Amorim continued in a long, impassioned first reply press conference: “I mean, let’s not beat around the bush.
“There was a club that said if I rejected it in six months I wouldn’t get it, and I knew in six months I would leave Sporting, so I didn’t want to regret not making that decision.
“I know it was a disappointment for Sporting fans and that they didn’t take the risk or wait until the end of the season, and then I wouldn’t have the only club I wanted to train for.
“The President knows about it because I had other offers and I didn’t want them at first, but this is what I wanted so I made my decision.
“But now I go home much happier because I’ve explained. People say ‘it’s about the money’, but there was another team who wanted to hire me first and they paid three times more than Manchester.’
Amorim stressed that it is difficult to leave the club he loves, but reflected on his decision, saying he would regret passing up the chance to manage United.
The 39-year-old understands some Sporting fans are angry with his decision and was grateful for the standing ovation he received before Víctor Gyáceres scored four goals in Estrella’s defeat.
Amorim promised not to sign the Sweden international or any other Sporting player in January, but confirmed that his coaching staff will join him in England.
Supporters Carlos Fernandes and Adelio Cândido are set to join him at Old Trafford, with Emmanuel Ferro, Jorge Vitale and Paulo Barrera also reportedly set to move.
“I will take my staff with me,” Amorim said. “That was always one of my conditions.
“I brought him from Casa Pia, the first club I trained at. For now, my focus is on sports, I am here to defend sporting. That’s all till the end.”