Morten Hjulmand: Man United refused to sign Amorim favourite from Sporting | OneFootball

In his last press conference at Manchester United, Ruben Amorim claimed that he joined the club to be their manager, not their head coach. 

Amorim’s comments suggest that he was discontent with the control he was afforded at United regarding tactics and transfers. 

Following Amorim’s dismissal on Monday morning, United stressed that the club’s recruitment team and the Portuguese tactician were on the same page during the summer transfer window. 

Now, a report claims the now former United head coach didn’t get his preferred targets. 

Amorim did not feel support from Manchester United bosses

According to the Daily Mail, Ruben Amorim‘s frustrations “focused on being knocked back” for several players at his former club Sporting CP.

Amorim effectively implemented his 3-4-3 system in Lisbon, turning the Lions into a real force in Portugal with two league titles in four years.

As such, he wanted to reunite with four Sporting stars to replicate the success at the Theatre of Dreams. 

It is claimed Amorim was keen on signing Geovany Quenda, Ousmane Diomande, Salvador Blopa and Morten Hjulmand.

Quenda, who made his breakthrough under Amorim, ended up signing for Chelsea. “Sources at United have stressed that Quenda’s similar profile to Amad meant that interest eventually fizzled out,” the report adds.

United overlooked Morten Hjulmand

The 40-year-old admired central defender Diomande’s physical profile and saw Sporting captain Hjulmand as a player capable of “filling a much-needed hole in the midfield and someone he did not need to explain his tactical ideas to.”

Last summer, The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming Amorim likes the Denmark midfielder’s “monster mentality”.

However, United never made a serious move for Hjulmand. It is believed the club’s hierarchy had other targets in mind to overhaul the midfield.

The Premier League giants continue to follow Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton and Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson are also thought to be on their shortlist of midfield targets.

Featured image Francesco Pecoraro via Getty Images

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