According to the Daily Mail, this clause is part of the two-and-a-half-year contract Man Utd signed with Amorim in 11/2024. At that time, the Red Devils paid $13 million to release him from his contract with Sporting Lisbon. Amorim's current salary is around $9 million per year, excluding bonuses.

Manager Ruben Amorim squats during Man Utd's loss to Man City at Etihad Stadium, Manchester, UK on 14/9/2025. Photo: Shutterstock

This means that if Man Utd sacks Amorim now, they will have spent approximately $35 million on arguably their worst-performing manager in history, including the release fee, compensation, and salary. Amorim currently holds a win percentage of just 36.2%, the lowest of any Man Utd manager since World War II.

The threat of dismissal looms over Amorim following Man Utd's worst start to a Premier League season in 33 years, with just one win in four games. The team was also eliminated from the second round of the League Cup by fourth-tier club Grimsby Town.

Before November 1, Man Utd faces a challenging schedule, playing against Chelsea, Brentford, Sunderland, Liverpool, Brighton, and then Nottingham Forest—the game that falls exactly one year after Amorim took charge. Poor results in this series of matches could lead to his dismissal after November 1.

Another factor concerning the board is the financial situation. Since Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, Man Utd has spent over $74 million on contract payouts for five previous managers: David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Erik ten Hag. This figure doesn't include the early termination of Ralf Rangnick's contract.

Beyond the financial implications, Amorim's reputation and abilities are also being questioned. Many players in the dressing room are reportedly losing faith in his tactical philosophy. The 40-year-old manager also tends to shy away from the spotlight when the team faces difficulties, as seen in footage of him avoiding the penalty shootout against Grimsby, and when Bruno Fernandes took the decisive penalty against Burnley.

Amorim has also sparked controversy with his post-match comments. He once admitted to "sometimes hating the players," declared he would rather be sacked than change his philosophy, and hinted he would choose the 63-year-old goalkeeping coach to play over Marcus Rashford.

Should Man Utd be forced to change managers, UK bookmakers have identified four leading candidates: Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Unai Emery (Aston Villa), and Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth). However, the Red Devils' board remains supportive of Amorim at least until the end of October, hoping he can turn the situation around.

Hoang An (via Daily Mail)