Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘unsellable’ Man Utd trio obtain stark Ruben Amorim message

Ruben Amorim will not allow his side to use youth as an excuse as he prepares to utilise stars already deemed ‘unsellable’ by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Since investing in Manchester United earlier this year, Ratcliffe has looked to overhaul United on and off the pitch. The club’s footballing hierarchy has been transformed with a team of CEO Omar Berrada, Sporting Director Dan Ashworth and Technical Director Jason Wilcox now in place.

It saw a situation heading into the summer where just three players were deemed not for sale at Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund were the only stars said to be off limits to potential suitors.

United did not necessarily plan to put a ‘for sale’ sign up next to the likes of Marcus Rashford, but the forward was among a group for who the club would have considered a worthwhile offer. Under new management, youth looks set to continue to play an important role.

The trio of Garnacho, Mainoo and Hojlund established themselves under Erik ten Hag to become ‘unsellable’ and Amorim will rely on them if United are to find success this term under his stewardship. Young players such as Leny Yoro and Amad Diallo will be given no room for excuses either.

“I don’t want to say that we need time because we are a young team,” Amorim said. “They are prepared. They are prepared to cope with the demands of playing for Manchester United. They should be because they are here.

“We know it will take time and we will try to win time with the games. But we have to start since day one without fear, without thinking that they are not used to playing like this. This is not on my mind. They will start on the first day with our idea, no matter what. That’s the goal.”

Amorim also discussed his priorities for his new team after departing Sporting CP. The 39-year-old is set to take charge of his first game against Ipswich Town next weekend. The former Portugal midfielder seems firmly focused on providing an identity for his side and ensuring they work together.

Amorim said: “In one word: team. The team is the most important thing for me. And if you work as a team, then the talent individually is going to shine.

“But if I have to explain the importance of everything, it is the character, the way we fight, the way we play, and we must have an identity. If our players take the shirt, they will know that it is the Manchester United team.

“Everybody thinks the same, running back, playing, enjoying. This is what drives me. I can say the popular thing, which is to win. Everybody wants to win and I want to win with my players, with the fans, but with an identity and one idea, that is the thing that I am focused on all the time.

“We know that we need time, but we have to win time. To win time is to win games. But the most important thing for me is identity. So since day one we will start with our identity. Of course we are going to prepare the games, but we will focus a lot in our game model.

“How to play, how to press, these small things, small details. You cannot go 100% on every detail because it will be confusing for the players. So if I have to say one thing, my main goal, my first goal, is identity.”