Manchester United have discovered why West Ham United rejected the chance to appoint Ruben Amorim as their manager earlier this year, as the Portuguese coach emerges as the leading candidate to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Amorim, 39, flew to London for talks with West Ham in April, but the deal collapsed. According to reports, West Ham chiefs were concerned that Amorim had only managed in Portugal, with spells at Casa Pia, Braga, and Sporting Lisbon. They opted instead for Julen Lopetegui, citing his experience across multiple leagues and clubs.
Lopetegui has won four of his 11 games in charge, including a 2-1 victory over United on Sunday that sealed Ten Hag's fate. United are now 14th in the Premier League after losing four of their first nine matches.
Amorim later apologised for his trip to London, describing it as a mistake and disrespectful to Sporting. 'The trip was a mistake, the timing was completely misjudged,' he said. Despite the setback, United are willing to trigger his €10 million (£8.3 million) release clause.
Speaking after Sporting's League Cup semi-final win, Amorim confirmed interest but remained non-committal. 'Manchester United is interested, but it's my choice... I will take on whatever I want to do,' he stated. The Red Devils are now waiting for a final decision.
