Ruben Amorim shows he's mastered one thing Zinedine Zidane hasn't as Man Utd close in

Ruben Amorim is set to be appointed as the new Man Utd boss after they agreed to pay his release clause, with the Portuguese having one advantage over long-time candidate Zinedine Zidane

Incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has already mastered speaking English - something Zinedine Zidane claimed would have held him back if he ever took the job.

United are set to announce Amorim as their new manager, having reportedly reached an agreement last night with Sporting CP. The Red Devils agreed to pay the Portuguese club his £8.3million release clause, plus compensation for the three coaches who Amorim wants to bring with him.

United bosses sacked Erik ten Hag on Monday morning after the Dutchman presided over their worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign, with Amorim now tasked with steadying the ship and guiding the team to the European spots.

The Portuguese coach, 39, is expected to remain in charge of Sporting until the November international break, according to reports in Portugal. He remained coy to every question thrown his way by Sky Sports after his side's 3-1 win over Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup while showcasing a fluency in English which will enable him to seamlessly take on the United job.

Addressing the media, Amorim said: "We need to wait a little bit more to explain everything I need to explain, and then everything will be very clear. It's my decision. I will tell everything so we have to wait, I don't know how long.”

Asked whether he would be in charge for United's clash with Chelsea on Sunday, Amorim responded: "I will be here [Lisbon]." And when quizzed further, he added: "I don't know."

His command of English will prove to be a huge positive for both him and United in terms of communication with the players. Zidane, who has three Champions League titles under his belt but has been without a job since 2021, once admitted that not speaking English fluently was one of the main factors in his hesitancy to manage in England amid links to Old Trafford.

Zidane told L’Equipe in 2022: "Never say never. Especially when you are a coach today. If I go back to a club, it is to win. I say this with all modesty.

"That's why I can't just go anywhere. For other reasons, too. Certain conditions make things more difficult. When someone says to me, 'Do you want to go to Manchester [United]?' I understand English but I don't fully master it.

"I know there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work differently. To win, many elements come into play. It's a global context. I know what I need to win. Of course, I might not always win, but I know that you need to have this, this and this. And I want to do everything on my side to optimise my chances of victory."

Portuguese newspaper Record reports that a clause in Amorim's contract states Sporting have 30 days to part ways with their coach from the moment United pay his release clause. As a result, the new United boss is expected to miss the Premier League game against Chelsea.

Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy took the reins for the first time in Wednesday's victory over Leicester City, and it appears he'll be at the helm for the upcoming clashes against Chelsea (November 3), PAOK (November 7) and Leicester City (November 10) before the break.

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Get the new Man Utd kit

Get the new Man United 2024/25 kit now!
Adult sizes from £80

United have unveiled their new adidas home kit with new front-of-shirt sponsors for the 2024/25 season - and you can get your hands on it right now.

Fanatics
Get it here

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.