Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim insists his future has yet to be decided, despite Manchester United confirming they are willing to pay the £8.3m termination clause in his contract.
United have quickly settled on Amorim as their number-one choice to replace Erik ten Hag, who was sacked on Monday after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham left his side 14th in the Premier League.
There are reports he has verbally agreed to a move to Old Trafford.
However, speaking after Sporting’s Portuguese League Cup win over Nacional on Tuesday evening, this is everything Amorim told reporters as he first told TV reporters: “We don’t know if it’s a farewell game, or if there will be one; that’s still not been decided.
“In this moment, I have nothing to say and everything that I say will cause more noise. There’s nothing concrete to say right now, but when I have to speak about the subject, I will. When I have something concrete to say and not just something that will fuel speculation, I will.”
Amorim continued: “We still don’t know the finer details, and therefore we will see. But everything I say now will only fuel speculation. When I have something to say, and I’ve always been clear about my decisions. And the decision is mine as the statement stated.
“When I am sure of everything, everything will be easier because to say something now, is not the best action to take.”
Then in his post-match press conference with the press, Amorim was continually pressed on the proposed move. He said: “We have to wait a little bit more to explain everything I need to explain and then everything will be very clear.
“It’s my decision. I will tell everything so we have to wait. That’s it.”
Asked if he will be in the dugout at Old Trafford for Sunday’s game against Chelsea, Amorim added: “I will be here. I don’t know. I can’t promise anything. What I know is that I will be at training tomorrow and I will prepare for the game against Estrela da Amadora.”
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And asked if he had discussed leaving with his current crop of players before 3-1 League Cup win he said: “There was no talk of anything, it was just before the set pieces to get the elephant out of the room. Before the statement was released, I explained to the players everything that was happening. There is nothing more to say.
“Manchester United is interested. But it’s my choice. Until everything is decided, we won’t be making any noise. I have nothing useful to say. I will take on whatever I want to do, as I have always done.”
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At times he seemed to get annoyed with the constant pressing from journalists about his future. On his release clause he said: “I’m not going to talk about my contract, it’s a matter between me and Sporting. All the clauses that exist in a contract are included by the employer and the employee.
“What I can say is that the statement contains all the necessary information.”
In a statement to Portugal’s financial regulator, the CMVM, earlier on Tuesday, Sporting gave notice to investors of the approach from United and signalled an expectation that a deal is likely to be completed.
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“Manchester United FC has expressed an interest in hiring coach Ruben Amorim, with the board of directors of Sporting SAD referring to the terms and conditions set out in the employment contract in force between the company and the coach, specifically the respective termination clause and the amount of Euro 10,000,000.00,” the statement said.
“Manchester United FC has expressed an interest in paying Sporting SAD the amount of the aforementioned clause.”
Sporting beat Nacional 3-1 in the Taca da Liga, a match widely expected to be Amorim’s last in charge.
Amorim has won two Portuguese titles and two League Cups with Sporting since joining the club in March 2020.
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The 39-year-old has recently been suggested as a possible successor to Pep Guardiola given his links with Manchester City’s incoming director of football Hugo Viana, although the Premier League champions have downplayed those rumours as mere speculation.
United’s controversial 2-1 defeat at West Ham, in which Jarrod Bowen’s disputed late penalty proved decisive, was the final straw for Ten Hag. Speculation over the Dutchman’s future had regained intensity in recent weeks after the 54-year-old remained in the role at the end of last season.
A club statement shortly before noon on Monday read: “Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager. Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
“We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been put in interim charge ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie at home to Leicester.
Ten Hag survived a summer review at United, buoyed by having beaten Manchester City to lift the FA Cup in May, but after only three wins from nine league games the club have swiftly had a rethink.
Ten Hag, United’s fifth permanent head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, had led Ajax to the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals and also won the league and cup double with them in 2018-19 and 2020-21.