Ruben Amorim has revealed that Manchester United told him it was “now or never” regarding becoming their new manager after Sir Jim Ratcliffe rejected his decision to delay his departure from Sporting Lisbon, while the boss made a promise short-term transfer after landing. the job at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils confirmed the appointment of the 39-year-old on Friday, just four days after pulling the plug on the Erik ten Hag era. The Dutchman leaves Old Trafford having guided the club to two major trophies, but a long way from where they want to be in terms of position and form in the league. Therefore, 14th place manchester united You will feel confident that the only way is up.

amorim He has signed an initial contract until 2027 at Old Trafford, with the option of one more year, and will begin his new role on Monday, November 11. His first match is scheduled to be at Ipswich on Sunday, November 24, and his appointment will cost United £9.2 million (€11 million, $11.9 million) in compensation after meeting his release clause. .

However, Amorim has now revealed that he had initially asked Ratcliffe to delay his appointment until next summer, with the British billionaire mercilessly posing the “now or never” dilemma.

Amorim revealed everything in motion, telling Portuguese media: “I spoke to the president (Frederico Varandas) and told him that, whatever happens, this would be my last season with Sporting. The president is here. He can confirm it.

“The season has started, we know that we started very well. And then came this situation with Manchester United.

“Manchester United appears, they pay above the compensation clause and the president defends the interests of the club. I never spoke about anything with the president about this negotiation.

“The only question I asked was leaving at the end of the season. For three days I said I wanted to stay until the end of the season, but then they told me it wasn’t possible.

“It was now or never, or Manchester would look for another option. So I had three days to decide, to make a decision that would radically change my life. But I had three days to make this decision and that’s what I did.”

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Amorim revealed that he wanted to take the next step and that he had no other option: “I have had other opportunities; the president and (director of football) Hugo Viana can confirm it. It is not the first or the second time that he has asked me for another team and I don’t want another team.

“After Sporting I wanted that one, Manchester, and I want that context because that context allows me to do things my way and the club believes me that way. It’s like Sporting.

“There is a moment when I have to take a step forward in my career. That’s what happened.

“It was more difficult for me than for any Sporting fan, believe me, but I had to do it.”

Revealing the full extent of the dilemma he faces, the 39-year-old, who boasts a 70.74% winning record at Sporting, added: “I mean, let’s not beat around the bush.

“There was a club that said that if I rejected him now in six months I wouldn’t get it, and I knew that in six months I would leave Sporting, so I didn’t want to regret not having made this decision.

“I know it was disappointing for Sporting fans not to take the risk or wait until 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 before I didn’t want them, but I did want this one so I made my decision.

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

Amorim understands that Sporting fans may not forgive him for the timing of his departure, but he hopes they will at least understand.

In return, he promised not to sign any of his players in the January window, although he confirmed that he will also take his technical staff to Old Trafford.

“I’m taking my staff with me,” Amorim said. “That was always one of my conditions.

“I brought them from Casa Pia, the first club I coached. At the moment I am focused on the games, I am here to defend Sporting. That’s it until the end.”

Latest Man Utd transfer news: Five Sporting players linked with Amorim reunion

Despite Amorim’s promise not to sign any of Sporting’s stars in January, reports of a reunion between the 39-year-old manager and some of his players at Old Trafford have already begun to gather steam.

The most obvious target is forward Viktor Gyokeres, who scored four goals on Friday night as Amorim’s farewell tour began with a 5-1 rout of Estrela Amadora.

The Swede now has 20 goals and four assists in 16 appearances this season, taking his tally to 63 goals in 66 appearances for the reigning Primeira Liga champions.

The striker is understood to be furious at his manager’s departure, leading to speculation he could well leave himself at the first opportunity. And while Tim Sherwood claims that “100% United should sign him”, We understand that the doors are opening for a move elsewhere in the Premier League..

United are also linked with a player, Ousmane Diomande, at Old Trafford. although an agreement for the defender will not be cheap.

However, sources have told TEAMtalk that the trio Amorim really wants is another Sporting trio and We understand that the names of all three players came up in his initial conversations with Ratcliffe and sporting director Dan Ashworth..

How Man Utd could line up with Ruben Amorim

United, purveyors of a 3-4-3 system that has served them well throughout their career, could field a very different formation to Ten Hag’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.

But do United have the right players for that formation? Time will tell on that front and a lot may depend on the fitness of some of those players.

There could also be several high-profile departures, with many players unsuitable for such a system…

READ MORE: Ruben Amorim prepared to immediately dispense with two Ten Hag signings in brutal first act as Man Utd boss