Amorim now ‘wants to delay’ Man Utd arrival for one reason as Van Nistelrooy prepares to take the reins v Chelsea

Manchester United are in the process of hashing out the final details with Sporting Lisbon for the transfer of Ruben Amorim.

The 39-year-old is expected to be bought out of his 2026 contract after United expressed their intent to activate his £8.3 million release clause. Sporting are also demanding a further £4.1m to sanction the exit of Amirom’s backroom staff, allowing them to move to Manchester with him. 

However, United are trying to bypass their first-choice man’s notice period, which may see him forced to wait until after the November international break to take charge of his first game. An early termination fee might be required to bring him in at the earliest opportunity.

Amorim considers delaying United move for European tie 

That being said, he is reportedly considering stalling his switch by at least a week. Neil Custis claims Amorim is intent on overseeing Sporting’s Champions League clash at home to Manchester City on Tuesday evening and ‘wants to delay’ his departure.

It may prove beneficial for the soon-to-be United boss to lock horns with Pep Guardiola’s men and see if he can get one over on them in a statement before heading to Old Trafford. Otherwise, Amorim’s first meeting with the cross-city rivals will be at the Etihad on December 15.

Should such plans materialise, it would mean that Ruud van Nistelrooy will also be in the dugout when the Reds host Chelsea this Sunday. Reports have suggested that the Dutchman will leave the club entirely when a permanent Erik ten Hag successor is appointed, despite turning down managerial offers in the summer to return to his former club as an assistant coach. 

Indeed, Van Nistelrooy rebuffed the opportunity to manage Burnley when they made an approach in June. It would’ve marked his first head coach role in England, with a season at PSV Eindhoven in 2022/2023 the only other experience on his CV.