Ruben Amorim has revealed he asked the Manchester United hierarchy if he could wait until the end of the season to take over at Old Trafford.

Amorim has become the seventh permanent hire since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013, but won’t take charge until after the November international break.

But had the 39-year-old got his way, United would’ve had to wait until the summer to welcome Amorim into the fold.

That’s because Amorim said he requested that United operate with an interim manager for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign – something the Red Devils weren’t willing to entertain.

Speaking after Friday night’s 5-1 win over Estrela da Amadora, Amorim said: “I can’t say much. It’s a phase where people feel what they have to feel. I wanted to explain the situation.

“At the beginning of the season, and the chairman is there to confirm it, I had a conversation with him and [Hugo] Viana, and I said that, whatever happened, it was my last season at Sporting. The season started and we started to have a very good season.

“United came along, paid the clause, above the clause, and the chairman defended his interests. I never discussed anything with the chairman.

“The only request I made was that it would be at the end of the season and they told me that wasn’t possible, that it was now or never.”

Making reference to offers he’s recieved from other clubs, he added: “I had three days to decide on something that would completely change my life.

“It’s not the first time that l’ve had my clause paid by another club. Nor the second. I wanted that club and that context. It’s just like Sporting. It’s very hard for me to leave.”

He continued: “I said I would stay for as many games as necessary. I didn’t say anything earlier because I couldn’t. That’s how the decision is.”

On the prospect of moving to United, Amorim continued: “The club appeared that I knew that if I rejected it, I wouldn’t have it in six months. And I knew that in six months I would know that I wouldn’t be at Sporting. The only club that I wanted and that moved me.

“It got to a point where I had to decide and I did. Now l’m going home much more relaxed. I would earn three times more with the last club that paid my clause. I gave everything I had for Sporting.

“I love this club, the people, and the staff but I had to make a decision. Shall I stay or go? My choice was to go now because I was told it was now or never and I had to make my choice.”

Amorim’s first game in charge of United is away to Ipswich Town on November 24.