Now he has been appointed Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim seems almost embarrassed about the fact he held talks with West Ham.
The change in manager at Man United has become intrinsically linked to West Ham.
The Hammers proved to be the Grim Reaper again when Erik ten Hag was sacked after Man United’s 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium last week.
Quite how West Ham did not lose the game heavily, let alone win, was a bigger talking point.
But the Hammers were hoping a much-improved second half performance could be the penny dropping under Julen Lopetegui.
Ironically Lopetegui was actually linked with Manchester United before taking over at West Ham.
Man United stuck with Ten Hag after their FA Cup win, though.
Now they’ve hired the man who was – at one stage – West Ham’s first choice. Much to the envy of many Hammers supporters.
Amorim makes bizarre comment about West Ham chief Sullivan
Man United fans are giddy with excitement at the appointment of innovative young coach Ruben Amorim.
That’s exactly how West Ham fans felt when Amorim flew for talks with the Hammers in London about succeeding David Moyes.
The move collapsed and Amorim apologised to Sporting fans for meeting West Ham.
If Irons fans were excited about Amorim, it’s fair to say they were completely underwhelmed by the man who did get the job – Lopetegui.
Those instincts have, thus far, proven unerringly accurate.
It was reported last week that Amorim had actually agreed terms to replace Moyes at West Ham only for majority owner David Sullivan to get cold feet over the expensive release clause, wages and package for the Portuguese’s throng of staff.
But speaking exclusively to Hammers News, Sullivan’s spokesman denied the Amorim decision was solely about money.
He insisted West Ham felt it was a ‘huge gamble’ and warned that the new Red Devils boss has ‘only done it in his own country with one club’.
Since then Amorim has opened up on his failed West Ham move.
He appeared to confirm West Ham were willing to pay his release clause.
But now new Man United boss Amorim has made a bizarre comment about West Ham chief Sullivan.
New Man United boss claims he just went for a chat with Sullivan
In a new interview, Amorim seems somewhat ashamed to have been linked with the Hammers.
So much so he has tried to insist he flew to London simply to meet and have a chat with Sullivan – not for talks about becoming West Ham manager.
Journalist Ben Jacobs reported the comments on social media.
“Ruben Amorim confirms he was never close to joining West Ham,” Jacobs said before relaying Amorim’s strange comments.
“I went to England but I didn’t go to negotiate, only to meet the owner.
“I had made my decision [to stay at Sporting]. If you think I wanted to leave last year, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Portuguese clearly ashamed of Hammers link
Amorim is clearly trying to distance himself from anything to do with West Ham.
He doesn’t want his name associated with what is seen as a completely inferior club now he’s joining one of the biggest in the world.
But nobody is buying it, just like nobody was buying his apology to Sporting in the summer.
People don’t tend to travel 2,000 miles to see prospective employers just to tell them they don’t want to work for them.
If it sounds far-fetched, that’s because it is.
Sullivan has already confirmed the Amorim talks were essentially an interview to replace Moyes.
He claims that while ‘we like him, we chose Julen’.
Now Amorim says he just flew over for a chat at Sullivan’s mansion? Pull the other one.
If there’s one positive to come out of the new Man United manager’s comments, it’s that it puts the saga to bed once and for all.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
