Lisbon
Ruben Amorim said on Tuesday that no deal was in place for him to become the next manager of Manchester United after Sporting announced the Premier League club were prepared to pay the Portuguese club his 10 million euros ($10.79 million) release clause.
The news comes a day after the team sacked Erik ten Hag with United languishing in 14th place in the Premier League standings. The club´s idea was that the Portuguese coach could be in place for Sunday's league game against Chelsea at Old Trafford, but Amorim did not want to confirm anything.
"I have nothing to say now, we're analysing here. Anything I say will only create more noise," Amorim told a press conference after Sporting's 3-1 win over Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup quarter final on Tuesday.
"There's nothing to talk about. There's the club statement, everyone knows about it. It was said by the club. For the rest, we don't know the exact details. We'll see.
"There is an intention on the part of the club (United), which is in talks with Sporting, but it will always be my decision. Talking about it now is just creating noise for the club and this whole situation.
"I can't promise anything. What I do know is that I'll be at training tomorrow and I'll be preparing for the league game with Estrela da Amadora on Friday."
Amorim tried to steer questions back to the game but he had to repeat the same answer several times as reporters kept asking him about United.
Sporting had earlier informed the Portuguese Securities Market Commission about the Premier League club´s interest.
"Manchester United FC expressed interest in hiring coach Ruben Amorim, with Sporting's board of directors referring to the terms and conditions set out in the employment contract in force between the company and the coach, specifically the respective termination clause and for the amount of Euro 10,000,000," a statement from the Lisbon-based club said.
The 39-year-old Amorim, who emerged as a front-runner soon after Ten Hag's sacking, led Sporting to the Primeira Liga title in 2021, ending a 19-year league title drought, before winning a second last season.
Portuguese media reported his final game with Sporting would be on Tuesday evening against Nacional, and that Amorim is negotiating with United over his staff and salary.
Amorim has been coveted by a number of clubs, including Liverpool where he was heavily linked with replacing Juergen Klopp last season with the club eventually choosing to hire Arne Slot instead. He also held talks with West Ham United to replace David Moyes before opting to remain in Lisbon.
His appearance in London for talks with West Ham, just ahead of the Portuguese club's clash with rivals Porto, did not go down well with Sporting fans. He subsequently apologised for his actions.
Amorim would step into what is considered one of football's most scrutinised jobs at a club clamouring for a return to the glory days. Ten Hag, who was sacked a day after a 2-1 loss to West Ham, was the fifth permanent coach since the club's most successful boss Alex Ferguson, to attempt to take them there.
The Portuguese is no stranger to the Old Trafford pressure-cooker, having done a coaching internship under Jose Mourinho at the club six years ago.
He also has a fan in United captain and Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes who said earlier this month that "Since Mr Amorim arrived at Sporting, it has been one of the teams to play the best football.
"They have been consistent, the signings have been right and they are in a very good moment," Fernandes told a Portugal press conference during the international break.
"It's a very well prepared team. Coaching Sporting and winning championships is not easy. Sporting went 20 years without winning championships and Amorim arrived and has already won two, this shows that the work has been done well.
"If he could manage to do the same in England, Spain or anywhere else, you will never know until you get there, but I'm sure his qualities are there for everyone to see."
Amorim, a former Benfica and Portugal midfielder who won three Primeira League titles with Benfica, is known for dynamic, offensive football. His teams can counter-attack quickly when in possession.
The manager laughed when asked about the reports at a Sporting press conference on Monday, saying he was expecting the question but was not prepared to talk about it.
United's interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will be in charge of Wednesday's League Cup tie at home to Leicester City.
