Ruben Amorim has shown he has no issue with selling his biggest stars if they go against his principles, with the Manchester United head coach expected to oversee a huge squad overhaul this summer
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim gestures on the touchline during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Ruben Amorim is not afraid to get rid of players who don't buy into his ideas
(Image: PA)
Ruben Amorim once showed that no individual is bigger than the team by putting his biggest Sporting CP stars on the transfer market and winning two league titles.
The Portuguese head coach is now showing that same ruthlessness at Manchester United through sticking to his guns and selling any player who doesn’t buy into his coaching methods.
Having come into the Sporting job as an inexperienced young manager in March 2020, Amorim quickly proved he had the right mentality and confidence in himself to succeed. He wanted to build a team with his own players who fitted his own style, something which sparked a mass clear-out during his first transfer window at the helm.
The tactician orchestrated the departure of seven players that first summer, while sending another three packing on free transfers and 15 being loaned out. It didn’t matter who they were - if they didn’t meet his requirements, they were out.
Even Marcos Acuna, who featured in 36 matches the previous season and captained the side in their last match of the campaign against Benfica, was swiftly and brutally sold to Sevilla.
Another player that butted heads with Amorim and didn’t survive to tell the tale was Islam Slimani. The Algerian had returned to Sporting as a fan favourite in 2022 and immediately started scoring.
But Slimani only lasted a matter of months as his attitude didn’t sit well with his manager. Amorim sent the forward home early from a training session, citing his “lack of commitment” and “inability to make a big effort” with the team.
Slimani's poor reaction to not being selected over striker Paulinho led to a firm stance from manager Amorim, who stated: "Those who train better, play better and are called up. It doesn't matter to me. I can risk my work and qualifiers. It will be like this until I stop being a coach."
Islam Slimani celebrating at Sporting CP
Islam Slimani was axed by Amorim at Sporting for not having the right attitude
(Image: GETTY)
The same mentality has been evident at Old Trafford in the short time since Amorim took charge. It became clear in December that no player was above the team when Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were dropped from the squad for the Manchester City clash.
Rashford was then completely frozen out and sent on loan to Aston Villa in January, with the United academy graduate expected to leave on a permanent deal in the coming months.
Garnacho too faced the consequences for his reported dissent towards Amorim and has since been put up for sale, attracting interest from clubs such as Napoli and Chelsea. The winger has been valued in the region of £60m.
Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford celebrating a Manchester United goal
Garnacho and Rashford are both set to leave United after crossing Amorim
(Image: Getty Images)
After United's final match of the season against Aston Villa, Amorim addressed the Old Trafford faithful with an apologetic message, assuring them that "good days are coming" after the club's worst Premier League finish.
In the ongoing mission to embed his vision at United, Amorim hopes to complete a major squad overhaul in the transfer window. Like Rashford and Garnacho, Jadon Sancho is also expected to depart after Chelsea paid a £5m penalty fee to send him back to United, having decided against signing him permanently.
Antony seems likely to join the exodus after rediscovering his form during his loan spell with Real Betis, where he said he is "smiling and happy" since joining the La Liga side in January. Many more are sure to follow him out of Carrington’s doors.