Reason West Ham really rejected Ruben Amorim and why it is a big worry for Man Utd

West Ham rejected the chance to appoint incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim in the summer because he had never managed abroad.

United are set to announce Amorim as their new head coach after reportedly reaching an agreement with Sporting CP last night. The Red Devils have agreed to pay the Portuguese manager’s £8.3million release clause as he looks to take over the struggling side left behind by Erik ten Hag, who was sacked on Monday after the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season.

Amorim at 39 is one of the most promising young managers in Europe and has been linked with Premier League sides Liverpool, following Jurgen Klopp’s departure in the summer, and West Ham. While Liverpool ended up appointing the thriving Arne Slot, the Irons also decided against appointing Amorim as David Moyes’ successor.

He flew to London for talks with the Hammers in April - a decision he soon regretted as the two parties failed to reach an agreement. That was just weeks before Sporting won the Primeira Liga for the second time in three years under the manager.

The former midfielder had previously managed two other Portuguese outfits, Casa Pia and Braga, but that's where West Ham's main reservations lay. As per the Daily Mail, it's claimed that Hammers chiefs turned down Amorim due to his limited managerial experience in only one country, preferring a more seasoned head coach to succeed Moyes.

With that in mind, the club's hierarchy appointed former Wolves, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Spain and Porto boss Julen Lopetegui. So far, Lopetegui has secured four wins from his 11 games at the helm, the most recent being a contentious 2-1 win over United on Sunday which marked the end for Ten Hag, leaving the Red Devils languishing in 14th place in the league standings.

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Amorim offered an apology for his trip to east London at the very next press conference, admitting he had been “disrespectful” to Sporting by talking to another club. "What is important to say is that it was obviously a mistake," the 39-year-old said. “The trip was a mistake, the timing was completely misjudged, which I did not see at the time. It was misjudged."

However, United remain undeterred by West Ham’s apprehension and are ready to entrust a manager with no experience outside of his native home to get immediate results to turn around their disastrous start. They are reportedly even ready to pay Sporting compensation for the three coaches Amorim wants to bring with him to Manchester.

Speaking after guiding Sporting through to the League Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 win against Nacional on Tuesday, Amorim claimed that “nothing has been decided” regarding his future.

"Manchester United is interested, but it's my choice," he said. "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."