Cristiano Ronaldo's nickname for Ruben Amorim emerges with Man Utd appointment 'imminent' and it speaks volumes

Cristiano Ronaldo has christened Ruben Amorim with a nickname that speaks volumes about the "eloquent" and "outgoing" manager.

Amorim, who has enjoyed four trophy-laden years at Sporting CP, looks destined to succeed Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager. In fact, the 39-year-old's move to Old Trafford is imminent, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola.

The publication claim three representatives from United will travel to Lisbon on Tuesday to 'close an agreement' with the coach, with talks expected immediately after Sporting's clash against Nacional.

Amorim has plenty of admirers. Earlier this month, Bruno Fernandes tipped the Portuguese coach to land a top job in Europe. “Since Mr Amorim arrived at Sporting, it has been one of the teams to practice better football," he said.

“They have been consistent, the signings have been right and they are in a very good moment. It's a very well-prepared team."

Fernandes added: “In relation to Amorim, it shows at this moment he is prepared. Coaching Sporting and winning championships is not easy, Sporting went 20 years without winning championships and Amorim arrived and has already won two. This shows that the work has been done well."

After watching how much of an impact he's made at Sporting, Portuguese football writer Marcus Alves is another huge admirer.

"On the pitch, he has always delivered," Alves tells BBC Sport. "Not even the constant sales in the transfer market have proved to be a problem for him. Under Amorim, no player is irreplaceable and more important than the club.

"The Manchester United job may look like an impossible one right now, but so did Sporting's when Amorim was unveiled as their head coach on 5 March 2020."

Alves went on to heap praise on Amorim, who has enjoyed a trophy-laden four-year spell at the Estadio Jose Alvalade after arriving from Braga. And he isn't the only one.

Image credit: Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo has given Amorim the nickname "poet" because of the way he talks to players and the media.

"Eloquent and outgoing, Amorim is irresistible and dominates the words in such a way that Cristiano Ronaldo used to call him 'poet' in the national team," Alves added.

"Above all, the 39-year-old doesn't tolerate lack of professionalism. This is a man who has pacified a team who seemed to be at war with itself once. He surely can do that twice if he's allowed to."

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