Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has revealed that a potential departure of Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim could depend on whether his release clause is triggered.
Although United can still win the FA Cup and qualify for the Champions League again this season, the pressure has mounted on Erik ten Hag and he faces an uncertain future.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has become a co-owner of the club and gained control of football operations. There is a feeling Ratcliffe might want his own managerial appointment in charge and that Ten Hag is essentially auditioning to keep his job from now until the end of the season.
Amorim is one of the dozen names to have been linked with the United job and he’s said to be attracting interest from other top clubs, like Liverpool and Barcelona.
The 39-year-old has never managed outside Portugal, but he led Sporting to their first league title in 19 years in his first full season in charge. Sporting are on course to win Liga Portugal again this term and Amorim is believed to have a release clause of around €10m in his contract.
Fernandes was asked about the manager of his former club during the international break and he told SportTV:
“If he really takes the next step – I hope he stays at Sporting – but if he takes the next step, I think the qualities are all there to be able to succeed in English, French, or Spanish football.
“Obviously, we know that the Premier League is probably the most desired. The qualities [to succeed in England] are there. And he has everything to take the next step, in my opinion.
“But it will depend on the clubs, the directors, whether they want to pay the Sporting’s release clause or not. There are many components. But I think that the manager Ruben Amorim is prepared for the next leap.”
Amorim was asked in November whether his release clause could be triggered, to which he replied:
“I’m not going to be commenting on that. I will respect the contract, everything that is there will be fulfilled.”
He continued: “Regarding the future, I have an idea for the end of the season but I won’t say it now. But the results and the context take us to something different. I don’t want to be commenting on these things. I have not been contacted by Manchester United.”
