Why Ruben Amorim rejected three Premier League clubs including Man Utd

Ruben Amorim has long been linked with a move to the Premier League but a switch to English football has yet to pan out for the Sporting CP boss for a multitude of reasons. The Portuguese manager is now nearing his long-awaited relocation to the English top-flight with Manchester United targeting the 39-year-old as their new No.1 choice to succeed the recently-sacked Erik ten Hag.

Talks between United and Sporting are ongoing regarding a compensation package for the two-time Primeira Liga winner with his current club. Amorim has previously pledged his future to the defending champions when faced with reported interest from Premier League clubs.

And Express Sport takes a look at the clubs Amorim has rejected to date and the key reasons as to why.

Chelsea

Amorim was among the potential candidates to replace Graham Potter at Chelsea in 2022, but the Sporting boss categorically ruled himself out of the running in order to remain in his native Portugal.

During an interview with Diario de Noticias, Amorim admitted to having contact with other clubs but pledged his loyalty to his current side. “I’m not looking for anything,” he said. “And by the way, I want to value what I have and not what is said. And it’s been said so many times… I’ve already said it.

“I’ve had contacts with other clubs, Sporting even knows, but I always wanted to stay because I like being at Sporting.” The Blues ended up appointing Mauricio Pochettino who lasted just a season at Stamford Bridge before welcoming Enzo Maresca as head coach this past summer.

Tottenham Hotspur

A Bola reported in March last year, prior to Ange Postecoglou’s appointment, that Levy’s ‘tempestuous temper’ was a sticking point in the Portuguese boss potentially making the move to north London.

The 62-year-old has not shied away from sacking managers with Spurs having to contend with the various footballing philosophies of Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, and Antonio Conte.

Manchester United

Erik ten Hag’s poor start at Manchester United last season, that saw the Dutchman lose five of his first 10 league games, saw Amorim reported to be a potential replacement.

While he did rule out a move to Old Trafford when asked by media, he insisted that he had yet to be contacted by the club working overtime to finally acquire his services. That decision now looks likely to be reversed, however.

Liverpool

Following Jurgen Klopp’s announcement that he’d be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, Amorim was among the names on the club’s shortlist of managers to succeed the iconic German. However, he was soon struck off the list after a disagreement over his footballing philosophy as he sets up his team in his favoured 3-4-3 formation.

Sky Sports‘ Melissa Reddy in April explained that: “Amorim was definitely on Liverpool’s shortlist, but despite all the external noise, he was never a leading candidate or the preferred candidate. The clubs made that pretty clear. Liverpool were saying ‘very good, we like him’, and he had ticked quite a few of the criteria to get onto the shortlist, but the biggest sticking point was the fact that his playing philosophy is so different.

“He likes to use three at the back – that doesn’t really stack up with Liverpool’s squad and their comfort in doing that. Also his long-term vision didn’t align with the Liverpool way, and remember Liverpool play the same way all through the age groups up, so you don’t want to disrupt that.”