Ruben Amorim has reply to Man Utd issue that made Cristiano Ronaldo need away
Ruben Amorim is so thrilled about his new role at Manchester United that even the British weather has him excited.
The former Sporting Lisbon manager, who was named as Erik ten Hag’s successor after the Dutchman got the boot, has been in Manchester for the past few days. Although he can’t officially start work due to work permit issues, he’s already holding meetings with bosses and staff.
In a video shared by the Red Devils, Amorim is seen stepping out of a car at United’s Carrington training ground and – probably as surprised as anyone else by the sight of sunshine and not rain in Manchester – joyfully exclaimed: “You see the weather?”
The weather is certainly a change from what fellow Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo got used to during his time at Old Trafford. Gary Neville, a United legend, once suggested the weather was a reason Ronaldo left for Real Madrid in 2009.
“I think because he did the interview after the 2008 final where he sort of alluded to the fact that he was going, it was almost like you had an advanced warning,” Neville said. “So you were almost ready-prepared for it, you knew he was leaving the year after. It was coming, it was obvious that one day he would want to go and experience [Real] Madrid and LaLiga.
“I didn’t speak to Cristiano for instance about him staying at the club for longer. I think I may have said to him during the year when he was maybe… the weather was a big problem for Cristiano,” reports the Mirror.
Neville added: “I think he also wanted to obviously live in Spain and do LaLiga. But the weather was a big problem for him and I felt like he’d almost travelled his path, he’d done the journey.”
Eduardo Rocha, a former director at one of Amorim’s previous clubs, has already hinted the new United gaffer will need to acclimatise to the Mancunian weather. He quipped: “He has never managed outside Portugal and it’ll take him time to get used to the conditions, like the rain, in Manchester.
“He will wear less short sleeves, but I have no doubt he will adapt and he will eat for free whatever he wants to eat at Portuguese restaurants in England!”
Amorim now has just under two weeks to whip things into shape at Carrington. His first match at the helm of the Red Devils is set against newly promoted Ipswich on November 24.
