Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim insists his future is yet to be decided after an approach from Manchester United.
The highly-rated Portuguese coach has quickly become the overwhelming favourite to take the managerial reins at Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal on Monday.
United are believed to be seeking a quick appointment in time for Amorim to take charge of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea, with Sporting confirming in a statement to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) on Tuesday that the Red Devils had “expressed an interest” in their manager and seemed willing to pay his €10million (£8.3m) release clause.
However, reports have suggested that the move could yet be delayed with Amorim said to have a notice period at the Estadio Jose Alvalade lasting for a number of weeks.
Amorim may have taken charge of Sporting for the final time on Tuesday night, with the reigning Primeira Liga champions having beaten Nacional 3-1 at home in the quarter-finals of the Portuguese League Cup with Viktor Gyokeres notching a brace to go along with an opening goal from Morten Hjulmand.
The 39-year-old was subject to an emotional potential farewell from the fans of Sporting, to whom he has delivered two Portuguese top-flight titles since leaving Braga to take the reins back in 2020 - including their first for 19 years.
After the game, Amorim was inevitably bombarded with questions about United following Sporting’s statement earlier in the day.
"I've seen the statement from the club and the interest of Man United,” he said, per Sky Sports.
"I have a release clause and when something more concrete emerges, it will be communicated. Nothing has yet been decided.
"I'm not here to speak about my contract. Those terms stay between myself and Sporting. Every coach has a clause and this is what was agreed between us.
"When a club shows an interest in a coach, that is not something I can control. There is a club that is interested, and we will see what happens in the next few days.
"It will be a decision that I will make alone, but now is not the time to talk any more about it. I don't want to add to any confusion... tomorrow my focus is immediately on training for our next game [against Estrela in the Primeira Liga on Friday night].
"I've not spoken to anybody more about the subject as I've been focused on tonight's game. There's a club who are willing to pay my release clause and that is not something I can control.
"My focus is on wanting Sporting to become double winners of the league and cup. This doesn't change. I have nothing new to say at this moment.
"Of course, if I leave the players will be sad but that is part of football. It was the same at Braga as we created something special. It would be a difficult situation but this is the life of footballers.
"I will explain everything to them if I were to leave, they might accept it or not, but of course if I were to leave I know I would have to broach a difficult subject.
"I will be clear when there is something to say. The players and the fans will deserve a clear explanation if I do leave, but I am not in a position to speak further about it at this moment. Nothing is decided yet… I don't know if it's the farewell game or not.”
Asked again by Sky for an update on his proposed move to Old Trafford, Amorim said: “We have to wait a little bit more to explain everything I need to explain. And then everything will be very clear.
“Yes, it’s my decision. I will tell everything, we have to wait. That’s it.”
Asked how long the move could take, Amorim responded simply: “I don’t know.”
Then quizzed on if he would be in the Old Trafford dugout against Chelsea on Sunday, the former Benfica midfielder said: “I will be here.”
Asked to confirm that for definite, Amorim laughed and said: “I don’t know.”
