Sporting star admits he wants Man City move instead of Ruben Amorim reunion at Man Utd

Sporting Lisbon star Maximiliano Araujo hopes to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City despite his former manager, Ruben Amorim, recently taking charge of their local rivals.

New Manchester United manager Amorim oversaw Sporting’s flawless start to this season and left them top of Liga Portugal with 11 wins from 11 games. The Portuguese giants also battered City 4-1 in the Champions League last week, with Araujo starting at left wing-back and putting Sporting ahead in the 49th minute.

The Uruguayan found time for a chat with Guardiola after the final whistle. And amid uncertainty at Sporting in the post-Amorim era, he has not shied away from discussing the chances of one day joining up with the Spaniard.

When asked about the possibility of Guardiola luring him to the Etihad Stadium, Araujo said: “I hope so, I hope so… I asked him for a photo, we talked for a few minutes and he congratulated me. I’m very happy about that. We talked about the game, nothing more.”

City have not been linked with Araujo, who was playing his club football in Mexico before Sporting swooped in this summer. Meanwhile, left-back is a problem position for United due to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia’s persistent injury problems.

On top of that, neither player has much experience in the wing-back role Amorim is set to deploy in his favoured 3-4-3 formation. It remains to be seen whether that combination of factors encourages the Red Devils to push for Araujo in January – despite his come-and-get-me plea to Guardiola.

Reflecting on his first few months in European football, Araujo claims he has a new respect for his Uruguayan team-mates who have found success on the continent.

“I’m very happy, I’m getting minutes and playing in a great team collectively and individually,” said the 24-year-old. “It was hard for me at first, the team was already consolidated, but now I’m adapting very well and getting minutes. That’s important.

“With this kind of thing you end up admiring [Federico] Valverde, [Rodrigo] Bentancur, [Manuel] Ugarte and everyone who’s in Europe more, because it’s difficult to have continuity.”

Uruguay face Colombia and Brazil during the current international break. When Araujo returns to Sporting, he will be led by new manager Joao Pereira, who has been promoted from the B team in the wake of Amorim’s departure.