'Concern' - West Ham insider unveils reason club didn't appoint Ruben Amorim as Man Utd deal sealed

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Ruben Amorim interviewed with West Ham to replace David Moyes earlier this year.

West Ham looked at recruiting Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim this summer following the departure of David Moyes but went in another direction with the club holding 'concern' over the 39-year-old's lack of experience outside of Portugal.

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Manchester United are set to appoint Amorim as the successor to Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday. Sky Sports reports this afternoon that the manager's switch from Portugal to the UK is a 'done deal' after Manchester United triggered the boss' €10 million release clause.

The outlet adds that Sporting CP are now asking the Red Devils to fork out an extra €5 million in compensation to allow the manager to leave well before his 30-day notice period, along with three of his first team coaching staff. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is believed to be pushing to have Amorim appointed at Old Trafford in time for Sunday's Premier League meeting with Chelsea.

Amorim was nearly a top flight manager this summer having been interviewed by West Ham to replace David Moyes. Those talks took place back in April but the Hammers eventually decided to appoint former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui.

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It had been thought that West Ham decided not to pursue a future under Amorim due to the £8.3 million compensation fee that Manchester United have paid but The Daily Mail claims that is not the whole story. Speaking to 'a source close to the club', it claims that West Ham felt appointing Amorim would be 'a gamble as he has only managed one top club in his own country'.

West Ham appointed Julen Lopetegui over Ruben Amorim.West Ham appointed Julen Lopetegui over Ruben Amorim.
West Ham appointed Julen Lopetegui over Ruben Amorim. | AFP via Getty Images

The source adds that the Portuguese manager did make a good impression in those April interviews, but the 'concern' over his experience was too big for the club to overlook.

Having interviewed with West Ham, Amorim returned to Portugal and apologised for the timing of the discussions, saying that they had been 'completely wrong'.

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Amorim retired from playing football in 2016 and began work as a manager with Casa Pia two years later. He then went on to work at Braga before moving to Sporting. In the four years he has had with Sporting, the manager has won the league title twice after the club had gone almost 20 years without lifting that trophy.

Amorim was asked about the Manchester United role following Sporting's 3-1 win over Nacional on Tuesday night. He said: "Manchester United is interested. But it's my choice. Until everything is decided, we won't be making any noise. I have nothing useful to say. I will take on whatever I want to do, as I have always done.

“I'm not going to talk about my contract, it's a matter between me and Sporting. All the clauses that exist in a contract are included by the employer and the employee. What I can say is that the statement contains all the necessary information. I can't promise anything. What I know is that I will be at training tomorrow and I will prepare for the game against Estrela da Amadora (on Friday).

“We have to wait a little bit more to explain everything I need to explain, then it will be very clear. It is my decision, we have to wait.”

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