Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been told one player’s “main asset” is his “football IQ” and has been described as “very resilient” on the pitch.
Ruben Amorim rolled out his tactical system at the Red Devils after the Portuguese coach left Sporting CP last November and became Manchester United manager.
The 40-year-old United boss found major success with his tactics in his native homeland and he led Sporting CP to three Primeira Liga titles during his reign.
However, Amorim’s tactical system has yielded mixed results at Old Trafford after a turbulent 2024-25 Premier League campaign for the Red Devils.
Amorim shifted United to playing with a three-man backline, with the former Sporting boss usually relying on a 3-4-2-1 formation for the club’s style.
The Red Devils did find success during their run to the Europa League final last season, but United fell to a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in Bilbao in May.
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Ruben Amorim, head coach of Manchester United, during the Europa League match between the Red Devils and Lyon at Old Trafford in 2025.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
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What Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim would find from Bryan Mbeumo if the Red Devils signed him from Brentford
Manchester United are linked with Bryan Mbeumo and the 25-year-old French-born winger is believed to be interested in a move to Old Trafford this summer.
The Red Devils made an initial approach earlier this month and United tabled a bid to sign Bryan Mbeumo with an offer of £45m, including a further £10m in add-ons.
However, Brentford rejected the bid and the Red Devils have reportedly returned with an improved offer for Mbeumo, who is a key target for United this summer.
It is now believed that United have tabled a bid of more than £60m for the Cameroon international, who is out of contract with Brentford in 2026.
Ex-Tottenham and Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong has insisted that Mbeumo would thrive in Amorim’s tactical system due to him not being a “stubborn player.”
“His main asset is football IQ,” he told BBC World Service’s Sport Today, as per Goal.
“The way he moves himself in the spaces means he can get himself out of situations, out of trouble.
“He’s not a stubborn player who just runs into people so that’s what makes him so unpredictable and difficult.
“He’s quick – but when I say quick, I mean the way he moves. He’s always on the move and he’s very resilient to go and hurt people. That’s what makes him a very, very dangerous player.
“For me, I see Mbeumo really on the wing because he needs space. I don’t see him being cramped in the middle of the traffic, in the middle of the park, which would be the case if he plays behind the striker.”
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The role that Bryan Mbeumo could have under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford and in the Man Utd manager’s tactical system
United’s pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo has also seen Tottenham emerge as a rival club in the race to sign him after Thomas Frank left Brentford and became Spurs manager.
However, it is still believed that the Red Devils are leading the race to sign the Cameroon and Brentford winger ahead of Tottenham this summer.
Sebastien Bassong has warned Mbeumo that he might not immediately start under Amorim and he would need to be patient with finding his ‘right’ place in the system.
“I don’t see him fitting that system from the start but, on the other hand, he’s a very clever player and Ruben Amorim is a very forward-thinking coach,” he added.
“So, if he’s really keen on him, he knows exactly where he wants him to fit in his system.
“I think they would have had some conversations. So, if he goes there, they’re both going [to] be able to make it work.”
United-linked Mbeumo impressed for the Bees last season and the winger scored 20 times and picked up nine assists in 42 matches across all competitions.