Ruben Amorim Offered Surprise Man Utd Escape Route

Manchester United’s beleaguered head coach, Ruben Amorim, could be on the verge of a surprising return to his roots, potentially reuniting with a long-time friend at Benfica amidst a challenging start to his tenure at Old Trafford.

A Benfica Return on the Horizon?

Nuno Gomes, the retired Benfica icon and current vice-presidential
candidate for the club, has confidently predicted that
Ruben Amorim
will one day manage the Lisbon giants. Gomes is a key figure in João
Noronha Lopes’ campaign, one of the leading contenders in Benfica’s
upcoming October elections. Noronha Lopes has already made waves with
talk of a January move for Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva and now
seems to be setting his sights on the Portuguese tactician currently
across town.

Initially, Gomes was discreet when asked about luring Amorim away from Old
Trafford. “Ruben Amorim is the coach of Manchester United, I can’t answer
that question,” he told Record. However, he quickly became more
forthcoming: “One thing I know, Ruben Amorim will be the coach of Benfica
one day.”

Gomes further emphasized the ambitions of his running mate, stating, “João
has already shown in recent years that he is capable of changing Benfica,
to make it greater and different from what it has been in recent years.”

A Deep-Rooted Connection

Despite his recent success with Sporting CP, Amorim possesses a strong,
long-standing connection with Benfica and Nuno Gomes. The 40-year-old
spent nine years as a player on Benfica’s books, with three of those years
overlapping with Gomes. While Amorim carved out a respectable career as a
fringe player, Gomes was an undisputed star, particularly for the
Portuguese national team.

The two have remained friends, leading to speculation that Amorim could be
welcomed into the Benfica dugout should his tenure at Old Trafford
conclude. Current Benfica manager Bruno Lage’s contract is set to expire
in the summer, and he has received little reassurance of an extension.

Amorim’s Tumultuous United Reign

The timing of Amorim’s potential availability remains uncertain. United
have endured a disastrous start to the new campaign, securing a mere four
points from four Premier League matches. His overall record in England’s
top flight is equally grim: Played 31, Lost 16, Drawn 7, Won 8 – with half
of those victories coming against newly promoted opposition. This makes
him the manager with the worst record since the Second World War.

Despite the poor performance, United does not yet appear ready to sack
their underperforming manager, especially after investing over £200
million ($272 million) in players to fit his system. However, Amorim
himself has frequently hinted at the prospect of stepping down. “Sometimes
I want to quit, sometimes I want to be here for 20 years,” the
characteristically honest tactician admitted last month. “Sometimes I hate
my players, sometimes I love my players.”

The coming weeks will be crucial for Amorim’s future at Old Trafford, as
the pressure mounts and the allure of a return to his beloved Benfica
looms large.