Ruben Amorim Wanted Three Players When He Took Man Utd Job but Got None of Them
Despite pushing for three players when he was appointed at Manchester United, Ruben Amorim has signed none of them 12 months on.
The 40-year-old was named United head coach on November 1, 2024, meaning he has now nearly spent a year in the role.
After a dismal first season, finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, he was backed in the summer transfer window.
Amorim's attack was overhauled with the additions of Premier League proven Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, while Benjamin Sesko arrived from RB Leipzig.
Advert
Goalkeeper Senne Lammens also proved a vital deadline day signing, joining from Royal Antwerp for £18.2 million.
United have now won three games in a row for the first time since February 2024, and the first time under Amorim.
They travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon for Sean Dyche's second game at the City Ground.
Who did Ruben Amorim want to sign?
Although United's summer signing have all made promising starts at Old Trafford, none of them were on Amorim's initial wish list.
Before he was appointed, TEAMtalk reported that he wanted to bring a trio of players from Sporting CP with him to Manchester.
One of those was 24-year-old central defender Goncalo Inacio.
Despite a £51 million release clause and reported interest from Liverpool and Barcelona, no club came in for Inacio.
He remains a regular at the heart of Sporting's defence, and with his contract running until 2027, there is likely to be renewed interest next summer, with clubs sensing a potential cut-price deal.
Marcus Edwards was another player Amorim reportedly wanted to bring to United.
The 26-year-old winger moved to England on loan in January, helping Burnley secure promotion from the Championship.
Burnley's promotion triggered an £8.5 million buy clause, but he has made just one appearance in the Premier League
Pedro Goncalves, another wide player, was also linked with Manchester United.
The 27-year-old, who previously played for Wolves, has been ever-present in the league for Sporting this season, contributing six goals and four assists in nine games.
Although none of Amorim's preferred players followed him from Sporting, United's executives backed him in the transfer market.
The likes of Antony, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia were all placed in a 'bomb squad' and forced to train separately.
All but Malacia have since left the club, and with the Dutch full-back's contract set to expire in 2026, he is unlikely to remain at Old Trafford beyond the current season.
Topics: Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, Premier League, Football, Transfers
James Taylor