Rúben Amorim will be the new Manchester United head coach after agreeing a deal to join from Sporting on a contract to 2027, but he will not start until November’s international break.
United are paying the €10m (£8.3m) release fee for the 39-year-old and about another €1m to shorten his 30-day notice period. Amorim will remain with Sporting for their next three fixtures, including the visit of Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday, and his first United match is set to be the trip to Ipswich on 24 November.
Amorim said at a press conference on Thursday that there would be clarity regarding his future after Friday’s home match against Estrela Amadora and that saying more at this stage would be destabilising for his squad.
“It is a negotiation between two clubs,” Amorim said. “It is never easy, even with the clauses, it is never easy – they have to talk. We will have clarification after the game – it will be very clear. It is one more day. After the game tomorrow, we will have the decision made.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue as United’s interim head coach for three more home games – against Chelsea on Sunday, Paok on Thursday and Leicester on 10 November – before handing over to Amorim. The international break begins on 11 November.
Amorim did not want to force an exit as a mark of respect for Sporting, who are poised to promote JoĂŁo Pereira, the B team head coach, as his replacement.
It is anticipated that Amorim will bring five members of his backroom staff to United – the coaches Emanuel Ferro, Adélio Cândido and Carlos Fernandes, goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital and sports scientist Paulo Barreira – but the details of their compensation are yet to be determined. United’s chief executive, Omar Berrada, and sporting director, Dan Ashworth, have been in Lisbon this week to hold discussions with Sporting.
Van Nistelrooy has said he is willing to remain at United after Amorim’s arrival to work in any role desired.
