Amorim wanted to stay at Sporting until end of season before joining Man United

LISBON : Ruben Amorim had already decided this would be his last season at Sporting, and wanted to remain at the club until the end of the campaign before joining Manchester United, but said that was not possible.

Amorim was announced as United's manager to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag on Friday, and will join the Premier League club on Nov. 11, earlier than he had wanted.

"At the beginning of the season, and the president is there to confirm, I had a conversation with him, and I said that, whatever happened, it was my last season at Sporting," Amorim told reporters after his side's 5-1 win over Estrela da Amadora.

"The season started and we started to have a very good season. United showed up, paid the clause, above the clause and the president defended their interests. I never discussed anything with the president.

"The only request I made was that it be at the end of the season and they told me that it was not possible, that it was now or never."

Sporting had confirmed on Tuesday that United had expressed interest in Amorim and were willing to pay his release clause, and the coach had little time to make his decision.

"I had three days to decide on something that completely changes my life," Amorim said.

"It's not the first time I've had my clause paid by another club. It is very difficult for me to leave. More to me than to any Sporting fan.

"I said that I would stay as many games as necessary. I didn't say anything earlier because I couldn't. The decision is like that. The club appeared, which I knew that if I rejected it, I wouldn't have it in six months.

"And I knew that in six months I would know that I was not going to be at Sporting."

Sporting won their League Cup game against Nacional on Tuesday, after news of