Jose Mourinho's private text message to Ruben Amorim speaks volumes amid Man Utd talks

Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim is on the cusp of being named Manchester United boss, eight years after his compatriot Jose Mourinho was handed the reins at Old Trafford

Ruben Amorim has been given the seal of approval from Jose Mourinho as he inches closer to being appointing Manchester United boss.

The Red Devils are in advanced talks with the Sporting manager and could confirm him as Erik ten Hag's successor before Sunday's clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford. Amorim, 39, is one of the most highly-rated young managers in Europe and has overseen a period of immense success since taking over at Sporting in 2020, having clinched two of the club's four Primeira Liga titles since 1982.

He turned heads in England after knocking Arsenal out of the Europa League in March 2023, prompting suggestions he might be the next Mourinho, who famously dumped United out of the Champions League in his breakthrough campaign with Porto two decades ago.

After the game, Amorim distanced himself from the comparisons, but revealed that Mourinho had in fact sent him a stirring text message to congratulate him. "Mourinho is one of a kind," he told reporters in his post-match press conference.

"He's already texted me, [saying]: 'The old and the new [Mourinho] are still in, I'll see you in the next stage!'... [Am I] the new Mourinho? There will never be a new Mourinho."

The Special One's gesture demonstrates the high regard in which he holds Amorim, which will be music to the ears of United supporters. The then- Roma boss ended up taking his team all the way to the final, where they lost on penalties to Sevilla.

Amorim's Sporting, meanwhile, failed to capitalise on their rousing Arsenal triumph and were knocked out by Juventus in the quarter-finals. At the time they struggling a little domestically, and there was even talk of Amorim losing his job.

But the Lisbon club bounced back in emphatic fashion the following season, by winning the Primeira Liga at a canter. They ended the campaign on 90 points, one away from tying Porto's all-time record of 91.

Sporting have been similarly dominant this season, with nine wins from their first nine league matches. Not only that, they've conceded just twice and are averaging 3.33 goals per game. By contrast, United are averaging 0.89 goals per league game this season, and have shipped 11 goals.

Amorim's appointment as United boss appears to be edging closer, with Sporting having confirmed United's intention to pay the manager's £8.3million release clause. After Sporting's 3-1 win over Nacional last night, Amorim admitted: "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 have always taken responsibility for my decisions and I will be here to do so, but when I am sure of things it will be easier."

Whether he'll be able to follow in Mourinho's enormous footsteps remains to be seen, but if his success in Portugal in anything to go by, he's certainly got a fighting chance.

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