Manchester United have been credited with a strong interest in Ruben Amorim (Picture: Getty)
Bruno Fernandes says he is confident Ruben Amorim is ‘prepared for the next leap’ and possesses ‘all the qualities’ necessary to succeed in the Premier League amid speculation linking the Sporting boss with Manchester United.
United find themselves languishing down in sixth place in the English top flight and there remain major question marks over Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman’s future likely to hinge on the club’s success, or otherwise, in FA Cup – their last shot at silverware this season.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is yet to publicly support Ten Hag’s position in the wake of his £1.3billion takeover at Old Trafford and it’s understood the Red Devils’ hierarchy have drawn up a shortlist of managerial targets in the event that the 54-year-old is dismissed.
Sporting head coach Amorim reportedly has plenty of admirers at the Theatre of Dreams, while the likes of Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi have also been tentatively linked with the job in recent weeks.
After steering Sporting to the Primeira Liga title and two Portuguese League Cups, Amorim, 39, is regarded as one of the finest young managers in European football and it’s clear Fernandes is a big fan of his fellow countryman.
‘If he really takes the next step – I hope he stays at Sporting – but if he takes the next step, I think all the qualities are there to be able to succeed in English, French, or Spanish football,’ Fernandes – who left Sporting for United just two months before Amorim took charge – told SportTV.
‘Obviously, we know that the Premier League is probably the most desired. The qualities [to succeed in England] are there and he has everything to take the next step, in my opinion.
‘But it will depend on the clubs, the directors, whether they want to pay the Sporting’s release clause or not.
Amorim is ‘ready for the next leap’, says United captain Fernandes (Picture: Getty)
According to Fernandes, there are several moving parts involved in any manager changing club – but he is sure Amorim has what it takes to succeed at the top.
‘There are many components,’ the United captain added.
‘But I think that the manager Ruben Amorim is prepared for the next leap.’
There remain question marks over Ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)
Amorim is tied into a contract at Sporting until the summer of 2026 and the Portuguese reportedly has a €20million (£17m) release clause in his contract in Lisbon.
Quizzed on United’s interest earlier this season, Amorim was coy on his future but stressed that he had not held talks over the prospect of replacing Ten Hag.
‘We don’t know the future, it depends on the results,’ he said at a press conference in November.
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‘It has more to do with the general idea of what we need as a team, extra pressure so we don’t hide.
‘Regarding the future, I have an idea for the end of the season but I won’t say it now. But the results and the context take us to something different.
‘I don’t want to be commenting on these things. I have not been contacted by Manchester United.’
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