Managerial appointments in the modern age are typically confirmed in the controlled environs of a club’s website and social media profiles.
But some Manchester United fans are convinced that bigwig Sir Dave Brailsford announced Ruben Amorim’s arrival to them personally outside Old Trafford on Wedneday night.
The Ineos director of sport watched on as United thrashed Leicester City 5-2 in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup under the interim tutelage of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
That victory comes as United close in on sealing Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim, 39, on a two-and-a-half year deal as Erik ten Hag’s successor.
But some believe the business is completed after a video circulated of Brailsford saying to fans, ‘yeah, it’s done’, outside Old Trafford ahead of the match. The only question is what that three-word statement referred to.
Sir Dave Brailsford stopped for pictures with fans at Old Trafford and said ‘yeah, it’s done’
They behaved as if he was referring to Ruben Amorim’s appointment but it was unclear
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Brailsford stopped to take pictures with two fans and said ‘yeah, it’s done,’ before they and the camera man started telling other fans ‘the deal is done’.
However, Brailsford may have simply been referring to the fact of the pictures being done, or something else entirely. It is unclear what he was asked in the first place and it is worth bringing a dose of scepticism.
Nevertheless, the fans he met were convinced he was on about the Amorim deal – or at least acted like they were.
The Portuguese is poised to succeed Ten Hag on a contract worth £6.5million per season. On top of his two-and-a-half-year term, there is the option of a 12-month extension.
However, Amorim will not be able to join United until the start of the international break on November 10, which means caretaker boss Van Nistelrooy will remain in temporary charge for three more games against Chelsea, PAOK Salonika and Leicester.
United are expected to pay £9.2million for him.
Amorim will become United’s sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and is expected to bring his own back-room team which includes assistants Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido and Emanuel Ferro as well as goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital and sports scientist Paulo Barreira.
Van Nistelrooy’s role in the new set-up remains unclear, but the Dutchman insisted after the game that he wants to stay on after returning to Old Trafford as Ten Hag’s No 2 in the summer.
United are close to sealing the appointment of Amorim on a two-and-a-half-year contract
‘I came here as an assistant to help the club. Now in this role, I’m helping as long as needed,’ said Van Nistelrooy. ‘In the future in any capacity, I’m here to help the club further to build towards the future that’s what I’m here for.
‘I’m here to help and serve and give my everything for the club in any capacity with so many people here around me that want the best for the club and that will never change.’
Van Nistelrooy did not hold a post-match press conference and will instead address the media on Thursday in his first media briefing since stepping up to replace Ten Hag.
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