Cristiano Ronaldo has given Ruben Amorim a nickname after observing the Sporting Lisbon boss with Manchester United now looking to appoint the Portuguese manager
Cristiano Ronaldo calls Ruben Amorim “the poet” with the highly-rated manager closing in on the Manchester United job.
The Sporting Lisbon boss has shown himself to be one of Europe’s brightest young managers, winning numerous honours in his time with the Portuguese club. He has been identified by the Red Devils as their top target after they opted to sack Erik ten Hag.
United are prepared to pay Amorim’s release clause with the Portuguese boss keen on the opportunity that exists at Old Trafford. He has impressed plenty in his homeland, where he has Sporting sat top of the league at this early stage of the season.
Ronaldo has observed the 39-year-old and gave him his nickname after seeing how he talks to the media as well as his players. Amorim will need to continue doing that when he arrives in Manchester with the pressure about to ramp up.
One player who he looks to already have onside is Bruno Fernandes. The pair narrowly missed each other at Sporting but the current United star has been hugely impressed with what he’s seen, praising his style and his preparation.
The playmaker recently said: “Since Mr Amorim arrived at Sporting, it has been one of the teams to practice better football. They have been consistent, the signings have been right and they are in a very good moment. It’s a very well-prepared team.
“In relation to Amorim, it shows at this moment he is prepared. Coaching Sporting and winning championships is not easy, Sporting went 20 years without winning championships and Amorim arrived and has already won two. This shows that the work has been done well.”
Portuguese football writer Marcus Alves has seen Amorim up close and has hailed the way he’s been able to maintain the team’s level despite them cashing in on their top stars. He previously told BBC Sport : “On the pitch, he has always delivered. Not even the constant sales in the transfer market have proved to be a problem for him. Under Amorim, no player is irreplaceable and more important than the club.”
One player who Amorim recently had to sell at Sporting is Manuel Ugarte – who has now found himself on the red side of Manchester. The Uruguayan moved from the Portuguese side to PSG, but only spent a year there before heading to the Premier League.
Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
