Manchester United’s academy has become a really sensitive topic for fans this season, with Ruben Amorim the centre of attention, but what if the real culprit lies elsewhere?
Ruben Amorim’s comments about the Manchester United academy are getting increasingly tense for the supporters, who are seeing the soul of the club gets stripped away.
From saying he played Chido Obi too soon last season, to taking uncalled-for shots at Toby Collyer’s situation at West Brom, a cynical tone is creeping into his comments.
Does Ruben Amorim need to improve his use of the academy?⭐️
Ruben Amorim in Manchester United attire during loss to Everton.
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
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He is the face that represents the club and is responsible for the team selection, so he’s getting the brunt of the criticism, but he might not be the actual culprit.
Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe consoles Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim after the 2025 Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the Estadio San Mames in 2025 in Bilbao.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim could just be following orders
One of the key features of Ineos‘ regime since taking over the club is their stress on how the manager will no longer drive the club’s vision.
He will have a huge say in it, but there will be no repeat of the way Erik ten Hag dictated the club’s transfer policy.
Ruben Amorim is their man through and through, which paints a different picture about the academy situation when one zooms out and looks at things holistically.
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The Man Utd manager keeps saying that the academy players are not ready, and the role of the academy could be to sell players to help with financial regulations.
Does that sound familiar? It should, because that’s the same hymn sheet from which Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been singing since his takeover at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe has repeatedly said that the academy at Carrington needs to improve, despite it being the sole shining light during a tumultuous time at United.
From Scott McTominay to Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, and more, the number of players who have broken through and flourished here, or made a name for themselves elsewhere, speaks for itself.
Are you happy with Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe?
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What Ratcliffe meant by that is quite clearly that United need to get better at selling academy players for pure profit.
When Amorim doesn’t trust players from the academy, it’s not just an isolated decision. It’s increasingly looking like the realisation of Ineos’ vision for the club.
Man Utd are special, just winning won’t remove doubts
Amorim swept every worry under the carpet recently by saying that nobody will care about anything else the moment he starts winning, which is a gross simplification of a complex issue.
It proves Paul Scholes right that Amorim doesn’t get the club, because United are special.
Jose Mourinho won trophies at United, but he faced criticism about his style of football, and nobody will forget the list of academy debutants under him, which he brought to his first press conference at United.
The academy at this club is a part of the soul of the club, and just winning won’t allow for the soul to be stripped away.
He can win without Mainoo, but he must be prepared to still answer questions about his lack of use of the academy.
It might be a directive from Ineos, because that’s the only thing that explains the 180-degree turnaround in how Amorim views the academy.
After all, this is the same manager who launched the careers of numerous members of Portugal’s golden generation at Sporting.
He’ll continue to take the blame as he fronts up to the media weekly, but at some point, questions need to be asked of Jason Wilcox, Ratcliffe, and Co.
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