Manchester United manager news LIVE: Ruben Amorim gives update after release clause triggered

Talks between the two clubs are ongoing and The Independent understands that Sporting are demanding €5m to release the key coaching staff that Ruben Amorim would like to take with him to Old Trafford.

The club are also thought to be asking Manchester United to pay more that the initial €10m compensation for breaking Amorim out of his contract immediately.

"We haven't got to that part. The club talks to another club, is talking to another club, and then you take the next step with the coach.

"And whether I want to go or not, I'll say later. That's the decision we're talking about here. I won't say."

“Without a doubt, without a doubt,” Amorim admits when asked if his players would be mad with him for leaving. “But I don’t interfere in the players’ lives. Now I talk to the players, because I’m Sporting coach. I want to do well for the group.

“I talked to the board about how we are going to manage the squad. But without a doubt my players will be, if I leave, they will be disappointed in me and sad with me. But it’s part of life.

“That happened with me already in Braga. When I came from Braga, from Braga’s stability to here, that happened a little.

“And they were a little disappointed, because they really believed that we were building something special. But then things happen that change people’s lives. And so, it’s a difficult situation.

“I can’t give you more than that. I understand that the players are even disappointed, sad. But I have to live with it. And the important thing is that we reach the end and know how to explain everything.

“Whether people understand it or not, the important thing is to come forward and explain it. And that’s what I’m going to do.”

If Ruben Amorim’s task of restoring Manchester United to the champions of England looks nigh on impossible from the team’s lowly current position, at least he is a manager with form for remarkable transformation.

Amorim took charge of Sporting CP in March 2020, as a 35-year-old coach with only two months’ experience managing in the Portuguese top flight. He inherited a giant club without a league title in 18 years, in disarray on and off the field after the exits of key players Raphinha, Bas Dost and Bruno Fernandes – ironically now set to be his captain at Old Trafford.

Amorim quickly set about imprinting his own football identity. In his first full season in charge, his young side set a league record 32-game unbeaten run on their way to winning the Primeira Liga, ending the long duopoly of Porto and Benfica. Sporting lost only one league game all season, against Benfica, after already securing the title.

Former Liverpool and Portugal defender Abel Xavier took his coaching badges alongside Ruben Amorim and was impressed with the Sporting coach.

"He is very humble, discreet, and has a very clear mindset," Xavier told BBC World Service.

"At Braga we saw an immediate impact because, with the same squad, with the same players, he transformed the team.

"He put in place his ideas, he changed the dynamic, he created empathy, and of course a big club like Sporting Lisbon paid to have him."

“It’s been a mess, that’s exactly what it is at Manchester United, a really poor start to the season,” says Kris Boyd tells Sky Sports.

“You’d expect Amorim to come in and freshen it up. It’s far too slow, I don’t see that with his Sporting, they’re quick and ask questions of teams defensively.

“In terms of bringing players in? You might have to get players out first. He’s a young coach, you’ve got to give him time.

“They’ll spend a lot of money to bring him here. It’s an exciting appointment for Manchester United, everything else has changed. They’ve got this now, they’ve spent a lot of money. They’ll find a way to support Amorim and I’m sure he’ll be a success.”

Manchester United transfers 24/25

1) Leny Yoro - €62m

2) Manuel Ugarte - €50m

3) Matthijs de Ligt - €45m

4) Joshua Zirkzee - €42.5m

5) Noussair Mazraoui - €15m

6) Ruben Amorim - €10m

Rubem Amorim's Manchester United could look immediately very different to Erik ten Hag's.

Since last season, Sporting have the fourth-highest defensive line from the major leagues in Europe with 45.20m, with Man City top with 46.70m.

Arsenal sit sixth on 44.70m away from goal and Liverpool are 10th on 44.20m.

The Red Devils, under Ten Hag in that time, sit 41.70m away from goal.

Pep Guardiola insists he “never had that feeling” about fear of losing his job since the first season in charge of Manchester City in 2016/17.

That season Guardiola's City finished third behind champions Chelsea. While Guardiola managed to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the fourth round of the League Cup and the round of 16 in the Champions League.