The Football Faithful
·2 November 2024
The Football Faithful
·2 November 2024
Ruben Amorim says he will not sign any of his former players from Sporting Club at Man United in the January transfer window.
The Portuguese is set to replace Erik ten Hag as manager after the Red Devils agreed to pay the Lisbon outfit €11m to release the 39-year-old from his contract.
Amorim will serve a notice period before taking the reins on 11 November; his final two games in charge will come against Manchester City in the Champions League and Sporting Braga.
It has been suggested that Amorim could take a number of his current players with him to Old Trafford, including in-form striker Viktor Gyokeres. But he says that won’t happen when the transfer market opens for business in two months time.
“Gyokeres costs £100m,” he said after Monday night’s 5-1 win over Estrela Amadora. “It’s very complicated. I will not take any of Sporting’s players in January. But that’s another story.
“There was no revolt whatsoever [from the Sporting players about Amorim’s exit]. But they were sad.
“The players were anxious. We could feel the atmosphere was a little different. I have been with them for five years, they have been with me for five years. I even talked to them before I signed them. It’s part of our characteristics to be close to the players.
“They know I’m the coach until Braga [final game], then I’m leaving. But disappointment? Yes.”
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