Joe Cole, former Chelsea midfielder, has raised concerns over Manchester United’s recent hiring of Ruben Amorim as head coach, describing the process as “messy” and questioning the timing of the appointment.
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Amorim, who was confirmed to take over from interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy on November 11, initially wanted to stay with Sporting Lisbon for the season but was urged by United to make the transition immediately.
According to Cole, the rushed nature of the move brings parallels to United’s previous appointment of Erik ten Hag, who joined from Ajax but ultimately struggled to meet the club’s expectations.
Cole acknowledged Amorim’s impressive accomplishments in Portugal, especially given Sporting’s limited budget compared to rivals Benfica and Porto, but expressed doubts about how smoothly Amorim’s skills would translate to the Premier League.
“It’s strange to hear he practically had to beg to finish the season in Portugal, but United wanted him now,” Cole told TNT Sports. “It’s tough to adjust mid-season, and I hope it works out.”
Amorim himself was open about his reluctance to leave Sporting under these circumstances. He explained that he’d previously informed Sporting’s leadership that the 2023–24 season would be his last but had hoped to complete it.
However, with United prepared to pay above his release clause, the club gave him a narrow window to decide. “I wanted to stay with Sporting until the season’s end,” Amorim shared, adding that he only accepted United’s offer after realizing it was a “now or never” situation.
Despite the abrupt decision, Amorim expressed optimism, recognizing Manchester United as an opportunity to bring his style to a new league.
“I’ve had other offers before, but I felt this chance with Manchester United allowed me to take the next step forward. It was a difficult decision but ultimately the right one,” he noted.