Ruben Amorim has said he wants to delay his move Manchester United From Sporting CP until the end of the season but was told by the Premier League club that it was “now or never”.
man united confirmed the appointment of Amorim as their new manager On Friday, Sporting announced in a statement to Portugal’s financial regulator, CMVM, that the Red Devils had paid a fee of €11 million for his transfer.
Amorim, 39, will serve a notice period with Sporting before officially starting work at United on November 11.
“I had three days to decide a choice that fundamentally changes my life,” Amorim told reporters after Sporting’s 5-1 win against Estrella Amadora on Friday.
“The only request I made was that it (the transfer) was to happen at the end of the season, and they (United) told me it was not possible; that it was now or never. I knew if I rejected it “In six months I won’t have it and I knew that in six months I would know I wouldn’t be in sporting.”
Amorim, who won two Portuguese league titles with Sporting – including their first title in 19 years – since joining in 2020, said he had decided to leave the club at the end of the season even before United made the offer. Had taken.
“I had a conversation with the (Sporting) president at the beginning of the season and I told him that no matter what happens, this will be my last season at Sporting,” he said. “Man United’s got this situation, they’ve paid above the release clause.”
Amorim, who was a aim of liverpool And earlier this year West HamSaid that this is the right time to leave sporting.
“I have received other offers before, it is not the first or second time that my release condition is going to be met,” the Portuguese said. “I came to a stage in my life where I had to make a decision.”
Amorim signed a contract at Old Trafford until 2027 with the option of an additional year held by the club.
He will take his staff.
“I’m going to take my staff, but we’ll have time to talk about this,” he said. “That was always one of the conditions.”
Amorim remains in charge of Sporting for Champions League home matches Manchester City More league games on November 5 Braga On November 10.
His first game in charge of Man United will be a Premier League game ipswich town on November 24 on Portman Road.
Amorim declined to answer questions about his next chapter at United on Friday.
“I haven’t spoken to any Manchester United players because I’m focused on my work,” he said. “I’m happy to stay for the next two games. I’ll talk about Man United on November 11.”
Amorim, who described his time at Sporting as “the best phase of my life”, said he understood how the club’s fans felt about his departure, as the club finished with 10 wins from 10 league games. The season had started.
“Everyone at Sporting knows how important (the club) is to me,” he said. “I understand the fans’ disappointment, leaving in the middle of a season that could have been historic… but today is not a farewell, we still have two important games with City and Braga to maintain the lead.”
Amid reports that United could sign the Swedish forward Victor Gyokres“I’m not going to take any players from Sporting in January,” said Amorim, who scored four goals on Friday.