Amorim avoids extra costs after £12m Man Utd exit

Ruben Amorim has reportedly avoided a substantial financial loss after activating a break clause in his rental agreement following his Manchester United dismissal.

The Portuguese coach was sacked at the turn of the year and is understood to have received a £12 million compensation package. However, reports now claim he has also limited additional personal expense by ending the lease on his luxury Cheshire home early.

Amorim, 41, had been renting a six-bedroom property in Cheshire valued at around £1.2m. The monthly rent was reportedly £15,000 under a contract running until June 2027.

Had the agreement continued, he could have faced rental payments exceeding £250,000 following his departure from Old Trafford. Instead, by exercising a break clause inserted in April, Amorim is said to have avoided further long-term liability and reduced his exposure to approximately £45,000.

The former Sporting CP manager was replaced on an interim basis by Michael Carrick, who has since overseen an unbeaten run in the Premier League.

Amorim’s tenure continues to be scrutinised, particularly regarding squad decisions. Kobbie Mainoo failed to start a single Premier League match under him this season but has featured prominently under Carrick.

Gary Neville criticised Amorim’s management of the midfielder on the Stick to Football podcast.

“Kobbie Mainoo didn't even get a chance under Ruben, really. If you think about it now and look at Mainoo in this team, that looks like the worst decision Ruben Amorim made.”

Neville added that publicly framing selection as a choice between Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes damaged the youngster’s momentum.

Having followed United’s recent resurgence, Mainoo’s reintegration has coincided with victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham, alongside a draw against West Ham.

However, it remains too early to draw firm conclusions on whether that selection call directly contributed to Amorim’s dismissal.

Manchester United travel to Everton on 23 February 2026 as Carrick seeks to maintain momentum in the race for Champions League qualification.

For Amorim, attention will likely turn to future managerial opportunities once contractual matters are settled. His departure has not ended debate over the structural direction at Old Trafford.

Did tactical decisions cost Amorim his United tenure, or was structural instability the deeper issue?