Manchester United Face £15.9m Compensation Bill After Ruben Amorim Exit

Manchester United are set to pay out as much as £15.9 million in compensation to former manager Ruben Amorim and his backroom staff following his dismissal earlier this year, according to financial documents released in the United States.

Ruben Amorim, 41, was relieved of his duties on January 5 after just 14 months in charge at Old Trafford. The Portuguese coach departed alongside five members of his coaching team, bringing an abrupt end to a tenure that had promised much but failed to deliver consistency in the Premier League.

After his exit, Amorim held talks with United’s director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, which resulted in an initial £10 million settlement.

However, a subsequent filing with the New York Stock Exchange has revealed the full financial impact of the decision. The total compensation package for Amorim and his staff could rise to £15.9 million, depending on the terms of his contract and whether he secures another managerial role within a specified period.

When factoring in the cost of appointing him and terminating his contract, the overall financial outlay related to Amorim’s short spell at Old Trafford could climb to £27 million.

In a separate development, former United first-team coach Benni McCarthy has opened up on the club’s decision to sign Rasmus Hojlund instead of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.

McCarthy, who worked under former manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, said United were genuinely interested in Osimhen but ultimately backed away due to concerns surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

“If you spend £100m on a player, you don’t want to lose him for AFCON,” McCarthy told Newsday on the BBC World Service.

“I think he would have been very successful there. But it [AFCON] was a big stumbling block.

“Losing him for so many important matches, the team suffers from not having the main striker there.

“So the decision was made. Literally [a] big part was because of the AFCON and Victor Osimhen’s name got scratched off, not a player of interest because of that.”

United instead moved for Hojlund, signing the Danish international from Atalanta in August 2023 for £72 million. He went on to score 26 goals in 95 appearances before joining Napoli on loan last September.