As part of the deal agreed with Sporting Lisbon, Amorim is set to stay with the Portuguese club for their next three games, including tonight’s match against Estrela da Amadora and then fixtures against Manchester City on Tuesday and Braga on November 10.
Amorim will start at United officially on November 11, the day after their Premier League home game against Leicester City, meaning he will first take charge of his new side at Ipswich Town on November 24.
Sporting were determined to keep hold of Amorim for this crucial period and United have accepted those terms in recognition of the 39-year-old’s standing at the Portuguese club and his desire for a smooth exit mid-campaign.
Amorim had a €10million (£8.4m, $10.9m) release clause in his contract, but there is also a 30-day notice period. United were willing to pay €1m extra to get Amorim earlier, so he can start work during the international break, which follows the Leicester game. Sporting had been demanding an additional €5m for an immediate release, according to people familiar with the deal in Portugal.
Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will now have a total of four games in charge. As well as Wednesday’s victory over Leicester in the Carabao Cup, he will oversee matches against Chelsea in the Premier League, PAOK in the Europa League, and Leicester again in the Premier League.
