Huge Boost received as Ruben Amorim sent surprise Viktor Gyokeres transfer message as Man United star hails Ruud van Nistelrooy

Huge Boost received as Ruben Amorim sent surprise Viktor Gyokeres transfer message as Man United star hails Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruben Amorim started work at Manchester United less than 24 hours after saying goodbye to his Sporting CP squad.

Ruud van Nistelrooy discovered at Carrington on Monday that football goes quickly. A day earlier, he had similarly led his team off the field, but he was informed that his time at United was over.

Van Nistelrooy was later informed that his services were no longer needed after a group of coaches who were under Amorim’s tutelage at Sporting went from Lisbon to Manchester with the head coach.

Originally hired as a supporting coach by Erik ten Hag this summer, the Dutchman went undefeated in the four games he oversaw as interim manager.

Amorim is focusing on the future, which may involve some former players, and has severed nearly all ties to his predecessor.

Sporting chief makes Gyokeres transfer admission

Sporting president Frederico Vandaras says he is helpless to prevent Viktor Gyokeres from leaving if a club pays out his £83million release clause, but believes the chances of that happening in January are slim.

The Swede has inevitably been linked with United after scoring 23 goals in 18 matches this season, three of which came against Manchester City in the Champions League. Both the player and Amorim have cooled speculation of a transfer in recent weeks

However, Sporting chief Vandaras was unable to rule out his exit. “I can’t promise anything,” he said. “If a club arrives and pays the release clause, if he (Gyokeres) wants to go, he will go, But I do not think this will happen in January.”

According to MEN Sports, Gyokeres seems destined for a summer move but there are still questions over whether he is one for United, especially given his price tag.

The Portuguese league is ranked by UEFA’s coefficient as only the seventh best top-flight in Europe behind the Dutch and French. Outside of the big three in Portugal, the competition is pretty poor.

United were similarly linked with Benfica’s Darwin Nunez in 2022 before Liverpool snapped him up. That should come as a warning of what could unravel if he renews ties with Amorim in the Premier League. He might turn out to be a good fit, but there is undoubtedly an element of risk attached.

Casemiro sends message to Van Nistelrooy
Casemiro has been one of the first United players to react to Van Nistelrooy’s departure from United. Van Nistelrooy was a popular figure both among fans and players, and his short stint as interim stabilised United during a rocky period.

The United hero had outlined his desire to stay on as an assistant under Amorim but did not receive such an offer from the Portuguese.

Van Nistelrooy was previously the head coach at PSV Eindhoven, where he won the Dutch cup and equivalent of the Community Shield.

Casemiro has taken to social media to wish him the best ahead of his next endeavour. Writing on Instagram, he said of Van Nistelrooy: “Forever grateful. Legend.”