Ruben Amorim is edging closer to the hot seat at Manchester United, and supporters will be loving what Jose Mourinho said to him in a private text message.
The Sporting boss is in advanced talks with the Red Devils, and could be unveiled as Erik ten Hag’s successor before United lock horns with Chelsea at Old Trafford this Sunday. 39-year-old Amorim has been turning heads since joining Sporting in 2020, having bagged two of the club’s four Primeira Liga crowns since 1982.
He particularly caught the eye after booting Arsenal out of the Europa League in March 2023, prompting suggestions he might be the next Special One, given the way Mourinho announced himself by dumping United out of the Champions League during his Porto days.
After sending Arsenal packing, Amorim played down the Mourinho talk, but let slip that the man himself had pinged him a text full of praise. “Mourinho is one of a kind,” he told reporters at his post-match press conference.
“He’s already texted me, [saying]: ‘The old and the new [Mourinho] are still in, I’ll see you in the next stage!’
“[Am I] the new Mourinho? There will never be a new Mourinho.”
Mourinho’s gesture shows just how highly he rates Amorim, which is sure to have the United faithful buzzing. The then-Roma boss went on to lead his team to the Europa League final, only to lose out to Sevilla in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
(Image: Getty Images)
Amorim’s Sporting didn’t quite ride the wave of their Arsenal victory and got booted out by Juventus in the quarter-finals. At that point, they were struggling a little domestically, sparking whispers about Amorim getting the sack.
But the Lisbon club hit back big time the following season, scooping up the Primeira Liga with ease. They wrapped up the season with a whopping 90 points, just shy of Porto’s record-breaking 91.
This season, Sporting have been bossing it again, clinching nine wins from their first nine league games. They’ve also only let in two goals and are banging in an average of 3.33 goals each match. By contrast, United are scraping by with 0.89 goals per league game this term, and have conceded 11 times.
(Image: Getty Images)
Amorim’s appointment as United boss appears to be edging closer, with Sporting having confirmed United’s intention to pay the manager’s £8.3million release clause. After Sporting’s 3-1 win over Nacional last night, Amorim admitted: “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. I have always taken responsibility for my decisions and I will be here to do so, but when I am sure of things it will be easier.”
Whether he can step into Mourinho’s giant shoes is anyone’s guess, but with his track record in Portugal, he’s definitely in with a shot.