A Sporting Lisbon fan burst into tears as he was asked about manager Ruben Amorim‘s seemingly impending move to Manchester United.
The supporter covered his face and had to be comforted by a reporter outside the club’s Estadio de Alvalade on Tuesday afternoon ahead of a cup clash with Nacional.
Manchester United have agreed to pay Amorim’s £8.3million release clause to bring him to Old Trafford, Sporting anounced on Tuesday.
That move would see Sporting lose a manager who has brought them two Portuguese titles – the first in 2020 after a 19-year drought – and three Portuguese League Cups.
And the connection that Amorim has built with the club’s supporters over four years was evident in the emotion of the interviewed fan, who could only croak in a high-pitched voice by the end of filming with TV channel SIC Noticias.
A Sporting Lisbon fan broke down in tears over news of Ruben Amorim’s impending exit
The supporter struggled to speak as he was overwhelmed by emotion on Tuesday afternoon
Amorim’s move to Manchester United could be delayed by weeks due to his notice period
That means that should an agreement not be reached on an earlier termination, he will not be in the dugout when United take on Chelsea on Sunday.
Indeed, there is a prospect that Amorim, who won back-to-back titles in Portugal, could not take charge until United head to Ipswich Town on November 24.
Ahead of a Portuguese League Cup clash with Nacional on Tuesday night, Amorim laughed off questions over his future and refused to commit to any words of note.
‘I was expecting that question and obviously I am not going to talk about my future,’ he said. ‘No matter what I say, I’d have to always talk about it.
‘I am very proud of being Sporting head coach.’
One would be forgiven for finding this expedited recruitment process something of a whirlwind.
It was only on Monday morning that Erik ten Hag was sacked by the club and, having retreated home to the Netherlands via a conveniently available private jet, he is already being drowned out amid the tempest of Amorim headlines.
Manchester United sacked Ten Hag on Monday morning after two-and-a-half years
Sporting Lisbon revealed that Amorim is on the brink of joining United after they ‘expressed interest to pay his £8.3million exit clause’
The Dutchman was relieved with Manchester United 14th in the table, coming off the back of their worst-ever Premier League finish of eighth.
He led the club to third in his first season, and also won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup across his tenure. Ruud van Nistelrooy, hired as his assistant over the summer, assumes interim charge.
Mail Sport understands the squad were informed of Ten Hag’s axing at the same time as the public announcement and captain Bruno Fernandes was the first to react.
‘Thanks for everything boss!’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘I appreciate the trust and the moments we share together, I wish you all the best in the future.
‘Even knowing the last period isn’t [sic] been great from all of us I hope you fans can keep with you the good things the manager has done for our club!’
Rasmus Hojlund has also thanked Ten Hag on social media. Taking to his Instagram stories, he wrote: ‘Thanks for everything, boss. Wish you all the best for the future.’
Alejandro Garnacho was the next to follow suit, saying: ‘Thank you for everything, boss. I will always be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity and the confidence to play for this club.
‘It hasn’t gone as well as we wanted, but I will remember the good times we had together and I wish you all the best in the future.
Man United are currently 14th in the Premier League following Sunday’s defeat at West Ham, and in the bottom half of the Europa League
Sporting released a statement on Tuesday afternoon confirming United’s intent to replace Ten Hag with their highly rated head coach
‘Thank you very much, Erik.’
Kobbie Mainoo, meanwhile, said: ‘Thank you for your trust and belief in me and for giving me the opportunity to play for my boyhood club.
‘I wish you all the best for the future.’
Diogo Dalot, whose crucial miss against West Ham played a part in United’s 2-1 defeat in Ten Hag’s final game, added: ‘Really sad things didn’t go the way we all wanted, boss.
‘Thank you for all you’ve done for me and for this club. Wish you all the best!’
