In a dramatic twist to the ongoing Manchester United managerial saga, Sporting CP's highly-rated boss Ruben Amorim has forcefully denied any contact with the Old Trafford hierarchy. The public declaration comes on the back of a frustrating night for the Portuguese coach, whose side fell to a shock 1-1 draw against Premier League strugglers Burnley.
The 39-year-old, touted as a leading candidate to replace the under-pressure Erik ten Hag, addressed the swirling speculation head-on after the final whistle. "I have not met any club for any interview," Amorim stated unequivocally. "That's the truth. I'm focused on Sporting. I'm not going to hide it, but it's that simple."
The emphatic denial will come as a significant blow to a section of the United fanbase who saw the charismatic coach as the ideal figure to lead a new era at the club. His current contract with the Liga Portugal champions contains a hefty release clause, believed to be in the region of £12.8 million.
Burnley Compound a Bad Night for Amorim
The off-pitch rumours were compounded by a disappointing on-pitch result at the Estádio José Alvalade. Despite taking a lead through a first-half Maximiano own goal, Sporting were pegged back by a late Dara O'Shea header, handing Vincent Kompany's Clarets a valuable draw.
The result means Amorim's side have now won just one of their last four matches across all competitions, a minor stumble in what has otherwise been a stellar season. His focus, as he made clear, remains solely on securing more silverware for Sporting, not a potential move to Manchester.
What Next for Manchester United's Search?
With Amorim seemingly taking himself out of the running—for now—the search for a potential successor to Ten Hag takes another turn. The Dutchman's future remains the subject of intense debate following a inconsistent season, with new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe yet to publicly confirm his backing.
This public rebuttal from one of Europe's most sought-after coaches throws United's planning into sharp relief. It remains to be seen whether the club's interest was ever formalised, or if Amorim's statement is a strategic move ahead of any future negotiations. For the time being, the Sporting boss is staying put.
