‘Now or never’ – Ruben Amorim explains ‘radical’ decision to become Man United manager | OneFootball

Ruben Amorim says he was handed an ultimatum by Man United to become their next manager or miss out on the job altogether.

The Portuguese tactician will replace Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout after the Red Devils agreed to pay the Lisbon outfit €11 million to release him from his contract.

After Sporting defeated Estrela Amadora 5-1 on Friday night, the 39-year-old admitted that he intended on remaining at the club until the end of the season.

However, Man United were unwilling to delay his arrival until next year and gave him three days to come to a decision. His tenure gets underway on 11 November.

Read – The winners and losers of Man United’s Amorim appointment

Ruben Amorim explains decision to become Man United manager

“At the beginning of the season, I had a talk with [President Frederico Varandas] and Hugo Viana [then-sporting director] and I said that whatever happened, this would be my last season with Sporting. The president is here, he can confirm that,” Amorim told his post-match press conference.

“The season started, we know that we started very well. Then the Manchester United situation came and they appeared. They paid above the release clause. I never discussed anything with the president about this bargaining. The only question I made was only to go at the end of the season.

“For three days, I said I wanted to stay until the end of the season. But I was told it was not possible, I was told it was now or never, or Manchester United would go for another option.

“I had three days to make my decision. The change is radical in my life but I had three days to make this decision. That’s what I did.

“I have had other opportunities, the president and Viana can confirm this is not the first or the second time I was asked for by another team.

“I wanted that one in Manchester. I want that context. That context allows me to do things my way. It’s just like Sporting. There’s a time when I have to take a step forward. It was harder for me than for any Sporting fan but I had to do this.”

Read – Ferdinand backs Amorim to succeed at Man United

Amorim defended his decision to leave Sporting, revealing that he had received offers to join other clubs, including one that was willing to pay three times as much as Man United. But the Premier League club was the only one he wished to join.

“I mean, let’s not go around the bush,” he said. “There was a club that said that if I rejected it now in six months I wouldn’t get it, and I knew that in six months I will leave Sporting, so I did not want to regret not making this decision.

“I know it was a disappointment to the Sporting fans and not take the risk or wait for the end of the season, and then I wouldn’t have the only club I wanted to coach.

“The president knows about this because I had other offers and I didn’t want them before, but this one I did want so I made my decision.

“But now I go home more happier because I have explained. People say ‘it’s about the money’, but there was another team that that wanted to hire me before and they paid three times more than Manchester.”

Read – Who is Ruben Amorim? Why Man United made their move

See Also – What trophies has Ruben Amorim won as a manager?

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