When Ruben Amorim’s protracted transfer from Sporting CP to Manchester United was belatedly concluded, he breathed an almighty sigh of reduction: “The cleaning soap opera is ending.”
Little did he know that he was strolling into one other daytime drama.
Amorim has already had his begin delayed by visa points and shipped out Ruud van Nistelrooy. A number of Manchester United gamers could observe the previous interim boss out of the door within the close to future, however there are some people who stand to considerably profit from Amorim’s arrival.
On the finish of Manuel Ugarte’s second and ultimate season at Sporting CP beneath Amorim, the combative Uruguayan led the complete division for mixed tackles and interceptions. These crunching figures earned Ugarte £50.5m transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in the summertime of 2023.
After a brilliant begin, the midfielder’s limitations in possession noticed him relegated to the function of a substitute. Ugarte barely acquired off the bench for Erik ten Hag – solely beginning one Premier League recreation, which occurred to be the controversial defeat to Tottenham Hotspur that the Dutch coach refused to acknowledge.
Ugarte began all 4 matches throughout Van Nistelrooy’s interim spell and can seemingly fill one of many two central midfield positions within the 3-4-2-1 system which he is aware of so nicely from his two years beneath Amorim.
Andre Onana arrived at Outdated Trafford with a popularity as one of the best ball-playing goalkeeper on the earth. UEFA’s technical report of the 2023 Champions League ultimate described him as “much less a sweeper-keeper than a holding midfielder”, however these spectacular possession abilities have gathered mud at Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag solely actually dedicated to enjoying out from the again for lower than two matches, shedding his nerve after the 4-0 rout at Brentford all the best way again in August 2022, a 12 months earlier than Onana even arrived.
Amorim has warned that United will not have the ability to play precisely like his Sporting facet, however they provide a template of how a lot duty is given to the goalkeeper. The Lisbon outfit play nearly 90% of their objective kicks quick – the best proportion in Portugal’s prime flight – and belief the goalkeeper to be concerned in the kind of intricate buildup play which was on show within the latest victory over Manchester Metropolis.
Bruno Fernandes left Sporting just a little over two months earlier than Amorim arrived. The membership’s former captain and boyhood fan continued to observe each match and was stuffed with reward for his compatriot: “I feel all of the qualities are there to have the ability to reach English, French, or Spanish soccer.
“Clearly, we all know that the Premier League might be essentially the most desired. The qualities [to succeed in England] are there and he has all the things to take the following step, for my part.”
Fernandes may pop up in two completely different positions relying on the form Amorim decides to deploy; both because the quantity ten in a diamond midfield or as considered one of two slim attacking midfielders behind a centre ahead in a 3-4-2-1. Each roles usher Fernandes nearer to objective and can hopefully prohibit his tendency to roam across the full width and breadth of the pitch.
