'One of the best' - Club chief breaks silence on manager future amid Man Utd and Man City links

Sporting CP president Federico Varandas is relaxed about the prospect of the Portuguese club's manager, Ruben Amorim, being of potential interest to Manchester United and Manchester City.

Having enjoyed good results with Sporting, throughout his tenure in Portugal, Amorim has become a hotly linked manager with Premier League clubs. Last season, he was linked with vacancies at Liverpool and West Ham United, admitting to speaking with the latter before they eventually chose to hire Julen Lopetegui.

This season, Amorim's name has once more been linked with the Premier League. Erik ten Hag is claimed to be on thin ice with Ineos and he could be sacked should results not improve significantly, while Pep Guardiola has yet to commit to a new contract at the Etihad Stadium and the impending arrival of Sporting's director Hugo Viana at the club has increased speculation that Amorim could follow if Guardiola decides to leave.

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Despite that, Varandas insists it's business as usual at his club, despite the rumours circulating. "I've been hearing this question for over four years," the Sporting president explained.

"I think this should make all Sporting fans and even the entire media proud; one of the best coaches in the world has been at Sporting for five years. That's fantastic."

He went on: "In a structure where all the pieces are important, [the manager] is the most important piece of that structure. Today, the three of us [Varandas, Viana and Amorim] have a friendly relationship.

"It is a fact that Ruben Amorim has a contract with Sporting until 2026. And, today, it's a fact that Hugo Viana will be