Ruben Amorim looks down
Ruben Amorim was defended by the Portuguese media (Image: Getty)
A Portuguese media outlet has lambasted Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool for the failure of several recent Premier League signings from Portugal. The English football scene's fascination with Portugal began two decades ago with the arrival of two titans of the sport - Jose Mourinho from Porto and Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting CP.
Their success at Chelsea and United respectively sparked a surge of interest in both players and coaches from the Iberian nation. A host of impressive talents have since made the journey from Portugal to England, including Ricardo Carvalho, Nani, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and the well-known connection between Wolves and Portugal. While many have thrived, it's fair to say that some have failed to make their mark on the Premier League, particularly in recent years. This has led to a growing belief that players who shine in the Primeira Liga may not necessarily adapt well to the more physically demanding and competitive Premier League, a criticism previously levelled at the Dutch Eredivisie.
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Now, an article by Portuguese publication A Bola, penned by journalist Joao Pimpim, suggests this love affair is at risk due to this emerging perception. Three recent cases - Ruben Amorim, Viktor Gyokeres and Darwin Nunez - were cited as examples. Amorim, who had previously restored Sporting to their former glory in Portugal and was rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after managers in football, was appointed by United in November 2024.
They spent millions to terminate his contract early and bring him to Old Trafford. However, his results were disappointing, his tactics were constantly under scrutiny, and he was dismissed just 14 months later. His star striker at Sporting, Gyokeres, who was Europe's top scorer last year, made a high-profile £64million move to Arsenal last summer.
But the forward has struggled in north London, scoring just once from open play in his last 15 Premier League appearances. Before these much-anticipated moves, there was the remarkable case of Nunez. Considered one of the world's best forwards at Benfica, he was signed by Liverpool for £64m in June 2022 but seemed out of place at Anfield for three seasons before moving to Al-Hilal last summer.
Viktor Gyokeres in action for Arsenal
Viktor Gyokeres has failed to impress at Arsenal so far (Image: Getty)
Whether rightly or wrongly, all three have been labelled as failures by both the media and fans, with others like Joao Felix, formerly of Chelsea, also experiencing similar outcomes. However, an article in A Bola has now shifted the blame onto English clubs for these players' struggles, suggesting it's more about the clubs' involvement than any lack of skill or talent on the part of the players.
The crucial line from the article states: "It gives pause for thought, yes, but when there are stars shining at the highest level, such as Joao Neves, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao, is the problem with the selling market or... the buyers?" The players mentioned are all flourishing at their respective clubs, PSG and AC Milan, who currently sit second in their domestic leagues. The argument carries considerable weight.
Amorim represents the latest in a lengthy succession of United managers (12 including Michael Carrick's appointment) brought in to stabilise the club following Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, only for their reigns to end disappointingly.
Cristiano Ronaldo Signs For Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo's move to England paved the way for those in Portugal to make similar decisions (Image: Getty)
Given the turmoil throughout the club's hierarchy, it seems somewhat unfair to single out Amorim, though his man-management approach and tactical inflexibility understandably raised questions. By contrast, Nunez worked tirelessly and admirably to find space and receive the ball in dangerous areas for Liverpool, despite squandering far more opportunities than he converted. Nevertheless, he contributed to a title-winning season.
Meanwhile, Gyokeres has been afforded considerable playing time by Mikel Arteta, but the team has largely failed to utilise his strengths, with the striker rarely being played through on goal and subsequently losing confidence.
Whether the Gunners forward will depart the Premier League before fulfilling his potential like the previously mentioned duo remains to be seen, though patience is already running thin and team-mates Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus stand ready to reclaim his position. We'll have to bide our time to see if these 'flops' will result in a heightened hesitancy to recruit from Portugal in the future, or if they're simply par for the course given the unpredictable nature of foreign signings.
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