Sporting player who Ruben Amorim said he 'loves' wants to join Man City after private chat with Pep Guardiola

One Sporting Clube de Portugal star who Ruben Amorim 'loves' has reportedly declared his wish to join Manchester City after a chat with manager Pep Guardiola.

On Monday, Portuguese coach Amorim officially started his tenure as United boss after leaving Sporting on the back of a 4-2 win over Braga.

A club statement read: "Incoming Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim arrived at the club's Carrington training complex on Monday afternoon.

"The 39-year-old boarded a flight from Beja airport in Portugal to Manchester in the morning, just hours after orchestrating a 4-2 win over Braga in his final match in charge of former club Sporting."

Since Amorim was confirmed as Erik ten Hag's replacement at Old Trafford, United have been linked with a host of different Sporting players, including the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Goncalo Inacio and Maxi Araujo.

However, wing-back Araujo has reportedly expressed his desire to join United's rivals, City.

As reported by Sport Witness via O Jogo, Araujo was asked about a move to the Etihad Stadium to work with Guardiola, the 24-year-old said: "I hope so, I hope so… I asked him for a photo, we talked for a few minutes and he congratulated me. I’m very happy about that. We talked about the game, nothing more."

Previously, Amorim has expressed his 'love' for Araujo and his fellow Uruguayans.

Speaking about United midfielder Manuel Ugarte, Amorim told TNT Sports Mexico, via The Metro: "All the Uruguayans I managed are incredible and that's why I love all Uruguayans…Ugarte is a very talented boy and has a lot of room to grow.

"I am very happy to know that I have him back at Manchester United."

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Ahead of Amorim's first match, which will be against Ipswich Town after the international break, captain Bruno Fernandes said: "Obviously for me, what stands out as I said to you is the connection he has with the players.

"You see it at the end of the game when a manager is going from your club in the middle of the season and with all the things that they have still to win."

He continued: "And you see the way they say goodbye to him, the way they feel, they make him feel part of the team and how they treat him.

"So it shows that this is a great character and he's someone that gives his all to the players."