Manchester United news LIVE: Ruben Amorim to be announced as new manager with complex timeline revealed
Man Utd set to make official their deal to hire the Sporting CP boss - but he won’t make the move to Old Trafford immediately
Ruben Amorim is set to become Manchester United’s next manager, but the delay in confirming the appointment of the Sporting Lisbon coach is adding to growing uncertainty over when he could take charge.
United will pay Amorim’s €10m (£8.3m) release clause, but The Independent understands the club are negotiating with the Portuguese champions to ensure Amorim does not have to serve a 30-day notice period, while they also want to agree terms to bring his backroom staff to Old Trafford.
Although Sir Dave Brailsford, Ineos’ director of sport, appeared to confirm to fans before the Old Trafford tie that the deal for Amorim was “done”, interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy said he is willing to help United for “as long as needed” after overseeing a 5-2 win over Leicester City on Wednesday night.
On Thursday, Amorim said the “soap opera” about his future is ending as he suggested his move to Manchester United will be announced on Friday evening. Sporting want to keep Amorim until the November international break - which would mean he would face Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Follow all the latest news and updates below as United close in on their new manager:
Ruben Amorim promises more clarity over ‘soap opera’ move to Manchester United
Ruud van Nistelrooy reveals next steps of Manchester United manager search
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s debut outing proves Manchester United were right to dismiss Erik ten Hag
Miguel Delaney answers questions on new manager search and transfer window
Ruud van Nistelrooy will be on Man Utd media duty as Ruben Amorim talks continue
Ruud van Nistelrooy will undertake Manchester United’s pre-match media duties on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s game against Chelsea as the club continue talks to hire Ruben Amorim.
Former Red Devils striker Van Nistelrooy is in temporary charge while United continue to negotiate with Sporting Lisbon for the services of head coach Amorim.
The Dutchman, at the helm for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup clash with Leicester at Old Trafford, may still be in charge for Sunday’s Premier League match.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will be on Man Utd media duty as Ruben Amorim talks continue
The United interim boss will speak at Thursday’s pre-match press conference to preview Sunday’s Premier League match against Chelsea.
More updates after Estrela game
Sporting coach Ruben Amorim says he will talk more about potentially becoming the new Manchester United boss after Sporting’s match with Estrela tomorrow.
He said: “I know you travelled here to talk about it and that’s natural, but we’ll leave that until the end of the game [when] I’ll talk about all these issues. Right now I want the team to focus and me too.
“I promise I’ll talk about it at the end of the game [on Friday] and everything will be clearer. By talking now, it’s destabilising the squad further.
“Right now, the focus is on Estrela da Amadora. As for doing things differently, I wouldn’t. I didn’t control any of the situation.”
‘What makes me nervous is the situation itself’: Amorim on interest from Man Utd
Ruben Amorim gave a press conference for Sporting CP earlier this afternoon and answered the majority of the media’s questions in Portuguese.
Here are some of his thoughts, translated by Sky Sport News, about the situation linking him to Manchester United.
Amorim said: “The relationship [with President of Sporting Frederico Varandas] is very good. there is no war. Tomorrow it will be cleared up, it is not in my nature or the president’s.
“The focus now is on the game, I felt the players were different in the talk, I could have said that the atmosphere was good and that nobody reads the news but I know the players feel anxious.
“There was no revolt at all, we are ready to win. There are things we cannot control, the clubs are negotiating and the coach’s decision does not matter.
“What makes me most nervous is very clear: the situation itself. Everything around me, makes me very nervous, it is difficult to focus on the games but I am managing to do so. The soap opera is coming to an end and the fact that I can’t be so clear creates a lot of difficulty for me.”
Man Utd edging closer to Ruben Amorim appointment
Manchester United are edging closer to the appointment of Ruben Amorim but the head coach is expected to stay at Sporting Lisbon until November’s international break.
The Old Trafford hierarchy unanimously decided to sack Erik ten Hag having decided enough was enough after Sunday’s late loss at West Ham continued their poor start to his third season in charge.
United immediately set their sights on highly-rated coach Amorim and informed Sporting that they would meet his €10 (£8.4m) release clause, sparking negotiations over his exit.
Man Utd edging closer to Ruben Amorim appointment
The Sporting Lisbon head coach is expected to stay with the Portuguese club until November’s international break.
Amorim gives update on Man Utd situation
Ruben Amorim was asked one question in English at the very end of his press conference about the negotations with Manchester United and why they are taking a while.
He replied: “It’s a negotation between two clubs, it is never easy. Even with the clauses it is never easy, they have to talk. We will have clarification after the game [against Estrela].
“It will be very clear, it is one more day, after the game tomorrow we will have the decision made.”
Amorim press conference underway
Ruben Amorim is currently speaking to the Portuguese media after of Sporting’s next fixture tomorrow night.
So far the questions have all been in Portuguese (understandably) but by the sounds of it Amorim has been adamant that his focus is on the game against Estrela and he will discuss Manchester United after that.
Ruud van Nistelrooy reveals sacrifices of Manchester United return and how ‘culture’ is being restored
Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed he was shocked when Manchester United approached him to return to Old Trafford in the summer and said he is making sacrifices he would not for any other club.
The Dutchman is set to take charge of United for the first time against Leicester in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie as the interim manager following Erik ten Hag’s sacking.
Van Nistelrooy was added to Ten Hag’s coaching staff as an assistant manager in July, though he admitted they did not know each other before then.
Van Nistelrooy reveals Man Utd return sacrifice and restoration of club ‘culture’
The Dutch coach will be on the touchline as United’s interim manager in midweek
Amorim to face media again
Ruben Amorim is set to face the media again after of the weekend’s fixtures. He last did a press conference on Tuesday night after Sporting’s League Cup over Nacional.
Here is what he said:
“We have to wait a little bit more to explain what I need to explain, then it will be very clear,” says Ruben Amorim. “Yes, it is my decision, I will tell everything, we have to wait. I don’t know [how long].”
Pushed over whether he will be at Old Trafford for Man Utd v Chelsea on Sunday, Amorim maintains he will still be in Portugal.
“I will be here [at Sporting].”
Definitely?
“I don’t know.”
What updates will the Portuguese manager provide this afternoon?
Sporting push for extra compensation for Ruben Amorim’s assistant coaches
Manchester United could face more expenses to prize Ruben Amorim away from Sporting, the Independent understands.
On top of the £8.3m release clause, Sporting are pushing for more compensation for Amorim’s assistant coaches, with as much as £4.1m more demanded.
It would also allow Amorim to waive a 30-day notice period, reports in Portugal add.
What is the Carabao Cup draw?
The latest updates coming out of Portugal are that Ruben Amorim will join Manchester United during the next international break. He would have a few nice Premier League fixtures to bed in before the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in December.
The draw took place last night, here’s how it looks:
Tottenham vs Manchester United
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
Newcastle vs Brentford
Southampton vs Liverpool
All ties will take place during week beginning 16 December and the Tottenham clash could be the first real test of Amorim’s reign. Ange Postecoglou wants to win a trophy and the Carabao Cup may be Spurs’ best chance this year.
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