Ruben Amorim's turbulent tenure at Manchester United was reportedly strained by a significant transfer disagreement months before his dismissal, with the Portuguese coach favouring a move for a proven Premier League striker over the club's eventual big-money signing.
The Transfer Tug-of-War
According to reports from talkSPORT, Amorim was left frustrated last summer when the club hierarchy pursued and secured the signing of striker Benjamin Sesko for £74 million. The former Sporting manager, who was keen to find a replacement for Rasmus Hojlund, had "preferred" a move for Aston Villa's experienced forward Ollie Watkins instead.
Watkins, who is approaching a landmark 100 Premier League goals, had attracted serious interest from Arsenal a year prior and was tentatively linked with United. Amorim believed a player of Watkins' proven calibre was needed to immediately bolster his attacking options, a view that was ultimately overlooked by the Old Trafford board.
Frustration Boils Over Before the Axe Falls
This transfer disagreement added to a growing list of frustrations between Amorim and the United executives. The 40-year-old manager was sacked on Monday morning after a 14-month reign, following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United and a series of critical public comments about the club's lack of backing.
His departure was attributed to a failure to create "stability" or "evolve" the team, combined with poor results, a heated meeting with football director Jason Wilcox, and constant negative media briefings. The Sesko saga from the previous summer exemplified the widening rift between the manager's vision and the board's actions.
Sesko's Struggles and Pundit Opinions
The decision to sign Sesko has yet to yield consistent returns. The 22-year-old Slovenian scored in consecutive games at the end of September and start of October but has since endured an 11-game goal drought across all competitions.
In his final press conference, Amorim defended his striker, stating: "Ben has completely different characteristics to Rasmus and he is doing the right things... He just needs to score one, then all the weight will disappear and he will be better."
United legend Rio Ferdinand also commented on the situation, suggesting the club should have pursued a different target altogether. "I still say we should have signed Victor Osimhen," Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel, highlighting the lack of a guaranteed, experienced goalscorer.
Darren Fletcher will now take charge as interim manager, starting with a match against Burnley on Wednesday night, as the club begins another new chapter following Amorim's abrupt exit.
