The Portuguese Manchester United manager wanted to bring three players to Old Trafford.
Despite pushing hard for three players when he joined Manchester United, Ruben Amorim has signed none of them twelve months later, and the 40-year-old was appointed United manager on 1 November 2024, meaning he has now been in the role for almost a year.
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After a very disappointing first season, where they finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, he was supported in the summer transfer window.
Amorim’s attack was completely transformed with the additions of Premier League experienced Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, while Benjamin Sesko arrived from RB Leipzig. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens also proved to be a vital signing on the final day of the transfer window, when he joined from Royal Antwerp for £18.2 million.
United have now won three games in a row for the first time since February 2024, and for the first time under Amorim.
They travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon for Sean Dyche’s second game as manager at the City Ground.
Who did Ruben Amorim want to sign?
While United’s summer signings have all had promising starts at Old Trafford, none of them were on Amorim’s original wish list.
Before he was hired, TEAMtalk reported that he wanted to bring a trio of players from Sporting CP to Manchester.
One of them was the 24-year-old center back Goncalo Inacio. Despite a £51 million expiry clause and reported interest from Liverpool and Barcelona, no club came in for Inacio.
He remains a regular player at the heart of Sporting’s defence, and with his contract running until 2027, there is likely to be renewed interest next summer, as clubs see a potential cheap departure.
Marcus Edwards was another player Amorim reportedly wanted to bring to United. The 26-year-old winger moved to England on loan in January and helped Burnley secure promotion from the Championship.
Burnley’s promotion triggered a £8.5 million buy-out clause, but he has only had one game in the Premier League. Pedro Goncalves, another winger, was also linked with Manchester United.
The 27-year-old, who previously played for Wolves, has been an ever-present in the league for Sporting this season, contributing six goals and four assists in nine games. Although none of Amorim’s preferred players followed him from Sporting, United’s management backed him in the transfer market.
Players such as Antony, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia were all placed in a ‘bombing squad’ and forced to train separately.
All but Malacia have since left the club, and with the Dutch full-back’s contract set to expire in 2026, he is unlikely to remain at Old Trafford beyond the current season.
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