'Amorim threatened to walk out of Sporting contract if club re-signed Cristiano Ronaldo' – Old report highlights stance of next Manchester United boss
With Ruben Amorim set to leave Sporting CP to move to Manchester United as the new manager, an old report regarding the Portuguese coach's stance on Cristiano Ronaldo has resurfaced.
Amorim, 39, quickly emerged as the front-runner to replace Erik ten Hag at the Old Trafford club earlier this week. He is now set to join the Premier League outfit after the start of the international break with the club paying £10 million in compensation fee, as per The Telegraph.
Earlier in November 2022, Amorim was involved in a transfer saga involving former Manchester United striker Ronaldo. Sporting were one of the clubs reportedly keen to hand the 39-year-old a contract after the player manufactured his own departure at Manchester United.
The Portuguese superstar, who suffered a public fallout with Ten Hag at the Red Devils, joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr on a Bosman move in January 2023. He was believed to be not wanted by Amorim for a deal to get completed with Sporting with The Times stating back in 2022:
"Ruben Amorim has intimated that he might walk out on his contract were Ronaldo signed."
Now, Amorim is set to depart Sporting after joining the Primeira Liga champions in March 2020. He will reportedly oversee the club's next three outings before joining Manchester United, who are in 14th place in the Premier League standings with 11 points from nine games.
Former Sporting winger suggests he was more talented than Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo
Speaking to Globo Esporte, ex-Sporting CP forward Fabio Paim made a bold claim about former Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo. He said (h/t talkSPORT):
"He grew up with me, we spent a long time together. I was Sporting's number one at that time. Cristiano started to be Cristiano when he went to Manchester United. Even then, nobody knew he would become what he is today."
Paim, who is three years younger than the Portugal captain, added:
"Today, Cristiano is the king, Paim is nobody. And people say: 'Oh, he's a liar, he wasn't better'. But the truth is that I was better than him and everyone knows that. I had more talent. But talent is nothing, talent is just a little bit. If you don't have the rest, you'll be nobody."
Paim, who joined Chelsea on a six-month loan in August 2008, played for teams in Qatar, Lithuania, Malta, and Angola before retiring aged 32.
Ronaldo, who will turn 40 next year, has bagged nine goals and laid out three assists in 12 total club appearances this campaign.