Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim's uncompromising management style has been thrust into the spotlight, following a shocking revelation about his time at former club Sporting Lisbon.
The Shocking Phone Call
The incident involves Brazilian winger Arthur Gomes, whom Amorim personally signed for Sporting in 2022 after being impressed by his performances for Estoril.
At the end of the 2022/23 season, Amorim directly phoned Gomes to assure him he was "counting on him" for the upcoming campaign. This personal guarantee filled the player with confidence about his future at the club.
However, the situation dramatically reversed just a fortnight later. Upon returning from holiday, Gomes received a call from a club director informing him that Amorim had changed his mind and was altering the team's tactics.
The director stated that Gomes was a player who needed regular football and that the manager no longer saw a place for him in the first team or even on the bench.
A Confrontation and Confirmation
Stunned by this sudden change, Gomes decided to call Amorim himself for clarification. The manager confirmed the disappointing news, leaving the player with no choice but to accept his fate.
"I said that I wasn't going to try to change his mind," Gomes explained on ESPN's Futebol no Mundo podcast. "I thanked him for the time I spent with him and I was going to see what I could do [in terms of leaving]."
True to his word, Gomes was sold to Cruzeiro just a month later. The 27-year-old now plies his trade with Dynamo Moscow, still aiming to prove he can succeed at a top European club.
A Pattern of Behaviour at Manchester United
This story from his past offers a revealing glimpse into the management approach Amorim has brought to Old Trafford. Since taking over at Manchester United just over a year ago, the 40-year-old has already been involved in high-profile disputes with wingers Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Gomes recalled how Amorim initially "showered" him with praise, boosting his confidence and work ethic from the moment he arrived. The manager had even told him that he had never taken his eyes off him since his debut for Estoril against Sporting.
One of the standout moments of Gomes' spell at Sporting was his Champions League debut, where he came off the bench to score a remarkable goal against Tottenham. Despite this high, the tactical reversal felt like such a betrayal that it ultimately forced his departure from the club.
