'Ruben Amorim broke his promise by agreeing Man Utd deal – he has betrayed Sporting'

Ruben Amorim has been accused of breaking his promise to stay at Sporting CP as his blockbuster deal to become Manchester United manager inches closer to completion

Manchester United-bound Ruben Amorim is "betraying" Sporting CP, according to the club's former vice president.

The Red Devils are in advanced talks with Amorim after dismissing Erik ten Hag on Monday and are hoping to unveil the 39-year-old before the end of the week after agreeing to pay his £8.3million release clause. News of Amorim's impending departure hasn't gone down well in certain Sporting circles, with star players Viktor Gyokeres and Morten Hjulmand reportedly confronting the coach about it during a training session on Wednesday.

Accusations of hypocrisy and betrayal have been levelled, particularly after several Sporting stars were allegedly convinced to stay at the club over the summer after being assured Amorim would be staying too. Ex-Sporting chief Jose Dias Ferreira went a step further, claiming Amorim was "stabbing" the club "in the back".

"I have great admiration for Ruben Amorim... for everything he did for Sporting, [but] his departure leaves me disappointed," he told Portuguese outlet Sic Noticias. "As a Sporting fan, I can truly say that it is a betrayal.

"Because betrayal is not just stabbing someone in the back. Betrayal is not fulfilling promises, commitments or principles."

The 'promise' Ferreira is referring to is one Amorim reportedly made to the club in the summer about staying to fight for a second-successive Primeira Liga title, following interest from the likes of Liverpool and West Ham. Last season, Sporting clinched just their fourth domestic crown since 1982, and their second under Amorim.

For decades, Sporting have struggled to step out of the humungous shadow cast by Portuguese powerhouses Porto and Benfica. Although they've won a handful of cups and league titles down the years, they've never managed to establish an era of dominance, as demonstrated by the fact that they haven't won back-to-back Primeira Liga championships since the early 1950s.

After starting the current campaign at a canter, with nine wins from nine in the league, hopes are high that the Lisbon club can end their 70-year wait for successive titles. But it increasingly looks as if they'll have to do it without Amorim at the helm.

Eduardo Barroso, former president of the Sporting General Assembly, said Amorim's departure "is like an earthquake" and that everyone at the club is "devastated" by his decision to leave. "I agree with the disappointment and frustration, I also feel sad. 100% of Sporting fans are devastated," he said. "Ruben Amorim was simply the best coach I have ever seen. And I have been a member [of the club] for 75 years".

Barroso also warned that Amorim's exit could spark a crippling exodus. "His departure from Sporting is like a huge earthquake, an earthquake. Earthquakes have consequences. The aftermath I fear most is that players could leave in January," he said.

Several Sporting players have been on United's transfer watchlist for months, and with Amorim on board, they'll have every chance to lure them to Old Trafford. But his sudden exit may end up burning a few bridges, potentially jeopardising United's transfer hopes.

Join our new WhatsApp community and 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.