Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim could be nearing the end of his disastrous reign at the club, with the Daily Mail linking him with a return to Benfica.
There is growing unrest at Old Trafford following Sunday’s 3-0 derby defeat against Manchester City, and although he remains in the job for now, it is clear that something must change.
Man United’s listless loss at the Etihad Stadium was another damaging chapter in what has become one of the bleakest managerial spells in the club’s modern history.
Amorim has presided over a miserable run since taking charge in November. His Premier League record reads just eight wins in 31 matches.
After a hapless 15th-place finish last season, United are already languishing in the bottom half of the table this term after four league matches.
The numbers are damning. United have collected just 31 points from 31 league games under Amorim.
The Red Devils have scored under a goal a game against top-half opponents while conceding nearly two per match.
Amorim’s tactical stubbornness has not helped his cause. Benfica could offer him a new challenge.
Joao Noronha Lopes, the front-runner in Benfica’s upcoming presidential elections, was spotted at the Etihad alongside Nuno Gomes, a close friend of Amorim and former teammate.
Benfica’s general director, Pedro Ferreira, was also present at the game.
Lopes has been open about his desire to take Amorim back to Lisbon if he replaces Rui Costa, and his appearance in Manchester was taken as a strong statement of intent.
But a move to Benfica may not be as straightforward as it seems.
While Amorim spent nearly a decade at the Estadio da Luz as a player, his managerial rise was built across the city at Sporting CP.
The rivalry between Sporting and Benfica is one of the fiercest in European football, and he may be unwilling to cross the divide.
