Manchester United have completed Team Amorim in a move that should also signal the end of a coaching carousel at the club lasting several months and costing millions.
Analyst Eduardo Rosalino is set to join new head coach Ruben Amorim and his colleagues from Sporting Lisbon – assistants Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido and Emanuel Ferro, as well as goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital and sports scientist Paulo Barreira – who touched down in Manchester on Monday. The appointment of all six coaches is subject to them being granted work permits.
Confidential understands that United have not paid compensation for the backroom staff, having forked out £8.3m to release Amorim from his contract in Lisbon and £900,000 more to cut short his notice period by three weeks.
Every penny counts at Old Trafford these days amid brutal cost-cuts – that include Sir Alex Ferguson losing his £2m-a-year contract as a club ambassador – with the bill for reshaping the coaching team since the summer estimated to be between £15-20m.
Although Erik ten Hag’s compensation is thought to be less than the £15m figure suggested, United had to pay off two of his coaches – Mitchell van der Gaag and Richard Hartis – at the end of last season when Steve McClaren also left to become Jamaica.
There is set to be one more new arrival from Lisbon following Ruben Amorim’s appointment
The new Manchester United boss arrived at Carrington to take charge of the club on Monday
The four backroom staff who have departed in the wake of Amorim’s arrival – assistants Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake, goalkeeper coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar and performance analyst Pieter Morel – are also due a pay-off.
Van Nistelrooy had the strongest case to stay on after overseeing a four-game unbeaten run as interim manager which included three wins.
But coaches like to have the security of people they know around them, and Amorim’s team is well established. Fernandes and Candido have been by his side since his first management job at third-tier club Casa Pia, while he met Vital at Braga before taking him to Sporting where he first worked with Ferro.
Rosalino joined Sporting in 2013, initially working with the B team before stepping up to first-team duties a year later. He was by Amorim’s side for the duration of his four-year stint at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
The 39-year-old replaces Morel who followed Ten Hag from Ajax to United in the summer of 2023 but was released with the rest of the Dutch coaching staff on Monday.
Darren Fletcher is set to survive the cull and provide continuity after serving under four previous managers – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, Ten Hag and Van Nistelrooy.
There is also likely to be a role for Andreas Georgson, who left his job as Lillestrom boss to join United in July. Georgson knows United’s technical director Jason Wilcox from their time together at Southampton.
United hope the cost of changing the coaching set-up will be money well spent, and they will still be able to comply with FFP rules in June.
Goncalves one to watch
Ruben Amorim has promised not to raid Sporting Lisbon for any of his old players in January, but it may be a different story next summer when the name of Pedro Goncalves could come into the equation.
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder has established himself as one of Sporting’s best players since replacing Bruno Fernandes following his move to Old Trafford in 2020.
Pedro Goncalves has established himself as one of Sporting’s best players under Amorim
He was a key man for Amorim, who claims he will not be signing any of his old stars in January
Amorim is unlikely to have a big transfer budget in January anyway, but is not ruling out bringing in some familiar faces for next season.
‘I won’t sign (any of them) in January, that’s what I said. In the summer, I don’t know. We’ll see,’ he clarified at one of his last press conferences as Sporting boss.
On Goncalves, Amorim added: ‘He can play for any team in the world and with any player, because he is a great player. I could take him anywhere.’
Another player of interest at Sporting could be teenage forward Geovany Quenda, who has made 15 appearances in his breakthrough season since being handed a debut by Amorim in August, and has caught the attention of a number of top European clubs.
Ruben’s on the radar
Nearly 11,000 people monitored Ruben Amorim’s private jet en route from Portugal to Manchester, making it the most tracked flight in the world on Monday.
They weren’t fooled by the fact it took off from Beja, two hours south-east of Lisbon, rather than the capital where Amorim lived and worked as Sporting coach or Braga where he took charge of his last game on Sunday evening.
In recent years, it has become more common for Portugal’s football clubs to use Beja as an alternative to the busier and more chaotic Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon as they wait for a new one to be built close to Sporting’s training base in Alcochete.
More than 10,900 people tracked the flight carrying Amorim and his five coaching staff which left Beja around 11am and landed in the UK just before 2pm. Manchester Airport joined in the fun, posting on social media: ‘A private jet arrived from Portugal this afternoon – wonder who could be on board.’
New boss plans short Lowry stay
Amorim and his staff are staying at the Lowry Hotel which was, of course, home to Jose Mourinho for a marathon 895-night stay during his spell in charge of United.
Since arriving in the UK, Amorim and his staff have been staying at the Lowry Hotel (pictured)
Jose Mourinho stayed at the Lowry Hotel for a huge 895-night stay while in charge of United
Don’t expect the new boss to become a permanent resident in one of the luxury suites, though. One of the benefits of bringing in Amorim and his staff at the start of an international break is to give them time to find a place to live before the players report back next week.
Hopefully by then, Amorim will have a work permit and be settled in to his new environment, ready to start work in earnest.
Reporters draw a blank
Fans do gather outside of Old Trafford on days other than matchdays – but it was a little busier than usual on Monday morning.
A group of Portuguese journalists and their cameramen were spotted by Confidential on the forecourt, perhaps hoping to catch a glimpse of Ruben Amorim on the day he was due to officially start work as United’s new manager.
Sadly for them, their compatriot went straight to the club’s Carrington training ground after jetting in on a private plane to Manchester Airport.
New phase in OT future
The process of deciding the future of Old Trafford will enter a new phase this week when local residents have the opportunity to give their views.
The stadium taskforce have already canvassed fans over their preferences for a brand new Wembley of the North or redeveloped stadium.
Now members of the local public who are not necessarily United supporters will be asked what they want from a wider regeneration of the surrounding area, and how it can best serve the community in terms of sports, entertainment and retail facilities.
Residents within a two-mile radius of Old Trafford have received leaflets directing them to an online survey which goes live at 9am on Wednesday morning. People from further afield can give their opinions and raise any concerns, but the results will be partly based on postcode data.
The lengthy process of deciding the future of Old Trafford will enter a new phase this week
Local residents will be given the opportunity to share their views on the stadium’s future
There will also be an open day at Old Trafford in early December before the stadium taskforce submits an options report reflecting the views of fans and residents.
A final decision has been put back until later in the season, but a key period will be March when the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s spending review will consider key decisions relating to the freight terminal behind Old Trafford and plans for a transport hub that could unlock plans for a brand new or redeveloped stadium.
Fans launch independent poll
A United fans group have launched their own survey about the future of Old Trafford after raising concerns over the club’s own poll of supporters.
United last week issued the results of their survey of more than 50,000 season ticket holders, members and members of the executive club which revealed that 52 per cent of fans want a new-build. A total of 31 per cent preferred to redevelop the stadium, with 17 per cent undecided.
It also showed that the desire for a brand new Old Trafford increases with age, while younger fans would prefer to redevelop.
But Fan Coalition 58 have decided to set up an independent poll after claiming the ‘sound bites and comments regarding demographics raised eyebrows to say the least’. The group said their survey, which is much shorter than the one sent out by United, will ‘gauge opinion with more direct unambiguous questions on stadium regeneration’.
The results will be shared with United who have delayed a decision on Old Trafford from the end of this year until next summer.
Young Reds duo star for Donny
One of the big talking points in academy circles in the past week has been the link-up between League Two Doncaster Rovers and United’s academy.
Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann (above) was impressed by Red Devils youngsters Malachi Sharpe and Finley McAllister during a behind-closed-doors game
An agreement was struck to send two United youngsters to Doncaster for a behind-closed-doors game, while two of Rovers’ youngsters came the other way to learn about life at United.
Sam Straughan-Brown and Kasper Williams got to sample life at United, although up until this point the United players who moved to Doncaster had not been identified. But Confidential can reveal that the two are Malachi Sharpe and Finley McAllister, and both caught the eye of Rovers boss Grant McCann.
‘They were both excellent in that game,’ McCann told Doncaster Free Press. ‘It was nice to see. Travis (Binnion, under-21s lead coach) has been brilliant with us and the fact we’ve managed to get Kasper and Sam in there is great, to show them what a Premier League club looks like.
‘But also their boys see how we work and train and deliver sessions. It’s been a worthwhile week and having that link with one of the biggest clubs in the world is huge.’
Baumann gets Ukraine nod
Plenty of happy faces around the academy building this week when it emerged that midfielder Zach Baumann was called up to play for Ukraine’s Under 19s.
Ukraine’s youngsters are preparing for their 2025 Under 19 Euro qualifiers against Kazakhstan, Slovenia and the Netherlands, and it will prove invaluable experience for Baumann who is viewed as one of those who is ready to make the step up.
If he gets minutes, Baumann will become the first Manchester United player to represent Ukraine in a landmark moment.
Aljofree feels the love at Accy
A word on young centre back Sonny Aljofree as he continues to feel the love on loan at Accrington Stanley. The League Two club earned credit at United for their work looking after goalkeeper Radek Vitek last season, and they are doing similarly well now with their development of 19-year-old Aljofree.
United prospect Sonny Aljofree (bottom left) is developing well on loan at Accrington Stanley
Manchester United are set to fend off competition from Chelsea and Arsenal to sign exciting Under 15 midfielder Emmanuel Ziro (above) from London-based Cre8tive Football Academy
United took some deserved criticism for their loan placement last season, with the now departed Maxi Oyedele in a particularly difficult spot being cast aside by Forest Green Rovers.
But Stanley are proving invaluable for Aljofree and they are benefitting from his qualities, too. With Aljofree in the side, Stanley have earned five wins, one draw, and just one defeat. Without him they have managed just one win, two draws, and five defeats.
Ziro to hero for Utd
United are set to fend off competition from Chelsea and Arsenal to sign exciting Under 15 midfielder Emmanuel Ziro from London-based Cre8tive Football Academy.
They are also one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in 16-year-old striker Michael Noonan from Irish club St Patrick’s Athletic, although Manchester City appear to be in pole position to sign the Under 17 Republic of Ireland international.
Racist fan banned
The female supporter who racially abused fan channel presenter Flex while he was filming at Old Trafford has been identified and banned from the stadium.
The United View TV show host was stunned by the language used by the woman after the Chelsea game earlier this month, with United defender Harry Maguire leading the widespread condemnation.
Confidential understands that as well as banning the individual from Old Trafford, United are also co-operating with Greater Manchester Police who are investigating the incident.
Simpson and May join sleep out
More than 100 people will brave the cold to take part in United’s third ‘Stadium Sleep Out’ – and among them will be some familiar faces.
United icon Lou Macari (above, winning the LMA John Duncan Award in 2023) will deliver a panel speech to the 100-plus people braving the cold for the club’s third ‘Stadium Sleep Out’
Former United players David May and Danny Simpson will join those bringing their sleeping bags for the night, while Lou Macari – a United icon and a person who does a lot of work to combat homelessness in his home of Stoke – will deliver a panel speech to the 100-plus people sleeping out.
For the past two years, United fans and club staff have come together to sleep in the stadium, raising awareness of homelessness and the ongoing challenges faced by young people across local communities, while also raising money for the Manchester United Foundation and youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.
‘We work with young people across the most socially deprived areas of Greater Manchester on a daily basis, and place intervention and prevention at the core of what we do,’ Manchester United Foundation’s chief executive John Shiels said.
‘We strive to make a positive impact on the lives and futures of children and families, and initiatives like the Sleep Out helps us to do just that.’
