Ruben Amorim has been slammed for taking the Manchester United job by a former Sporting Lisbon president. Jaime Marta Soares is furious with the coach’s impending departure and claims it should not be allowed to happen.
Amorim is widely expected to move to Old Trafford after Sporting announced that United intend to pay his £8.3m release clause. The 39-year-old will replace Erik ten Hag, who was sacked on Monday.
But news of his decision to leave the Portuguese club has not gone down well. Ex-Sporting chief Soares insists the switch should be called off, accusing Amorim of ‘spitting’ in the “plate that gave him his soup”.
Speaking on Radio Renascenca, he said of Amorim: “His attitude and personality seemed like one thing, but that fell apart from one moment to the next. His love, passion and dedication to Sporting were just fantasy situations.
“He was the one who created an environment with an entire Sporting fanatic nation around him, who adored and respected him. He shouldn’t have spat in the plate that gave him his soup.”
He added: “I am a fan of Ruben Amorim, but there are things that should not be allowed. It was in Sporting that he made his name.”
Amorim is expected to have taken charge of his last game at Sporting, last night’s 3-1 cup victory over Nacional. United will want a swift appointment to take place, allowing their new head coach to be in place for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.
The former Portugal midfielder accepts that his players will be unhappy with his decision to quit. He said last night: “Those are my things. Whether I want to go or not, that’s the decision we’re talking about here. The players? Without a doubt, if I leave, they’ll be disappointed with me. And sad with me.
“But that’s part of life. That happened in Braga. When I came from Braga, from the stability of Braga to here, that happened a bit. And they were a bit disappointed.
“Because they really believed that we were building something special. But then things happen that change people’s lives. It’s a difficult situation. I can’t give them more than that.
“I’m not going to tell them whether I want to go or not. It’s one of the few things that’s still missing. I understand that the players are disappointed. Sad. But I have to live with that.”
