West Ham fans have been reeling after seeing Ruben Amorim, the man who was the prime candidate to be their new boss, take over at Man United instead.
There was no lack of irony that West Ham played a huge part in Ruben Amorim being named Manchester United’s new manager.
The Hammers were the Premier League’s Grim Reaper again when Erik ten Hag was added to their body count after Man United lost 2-1 at the London Stadium last weekend.
Manchester United have now officially appointed the young Portuguese boss after buying him out of his Sporting contract.
Many Man United fans are giddy with excitement at the prospect of the innovative 39-year-old transforming how they play.
Just as West Ham supporters were when Amorim flew for talks with West Ham in London ahead of the summer.
The move collapsed and Amorim apologised to Sporting fans for meeting West Ham.
Irons fans were gutted when the move for Amorim fell through.
Amorim opens up on failed West Ham move
It was a major reason why so many were underwhelmed by the eventual appointment of Julen Lopetegui – who was ironically linked with the Red Devils in the summer.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Amorim had agreed terms to replace David Moyes at West Ham only for majority owner David Sullivan to get cold feet over his £8.3m release clause, wages and paying for the Portuguese’s throng of staff.
Speaking exclusively to Hammers News earlier this week, Sullivan’s spokesman denied the Amorim decision was solely about money.
He insisted West Ham also did not feel comfortable with the ‘huge gamble’ as the new Man United boss has ‘only done it in his own country with one club’.
“We liked him very much, but we chose Julen,” Sullivan’s spokesman said.
After a week of claim and counter claim that gave West Ham fans deja vu, the ex Braga boss has been officially appointed by Man United and will join on November 11th.
Now Amorim has opened up on his failed West Ham move as he makes a big Man United revelation.
And he appears to have confirmed West Ham were willing to pay his release clause – despite claims to the contrary.
Boss who had Sullivan talks makes Man United revelation
But it was he who did not want to join the Hammers.
Because he only ever wanted to manage Manchester United – and only when they had reached a new low.
“I’ve had other opportunities – the president and (director of football) Hugo Viana can confirm this,” Amorim said, as reported on BBC Sport.
“It’s not the first or the second time that I have been requested by another team and I don’t want another team.
“After Sporting I wanted that one, Manchester (United), and I want that context because that context allows me to do things my way and the club believes me that way.
“There’s a time when I have to take a step forward in my career. That’s what happened. It was harder for me than to any Sporting fan, believe me, but I had to do this…
“People say ‘it’s about the money’, but there was another team that wanted to hire me before and they paid three times more than Manchester.”
Amorim claim takes the edge off for Hammers
Cynics will say suggest Amorim is of course going to say that after joining Man United.
Although it does take the edge off slightly for the Hammers if true.
Fans can swallow missing out on one of the most innovative and bright young minds in football because he wanted to join a much bigger club.
But seeing it happen believing it was purely because Sullivan wouldn’t pay to make it happen would be galling.
We have now heard from both Sullivan and Amorim and it seems the latter certainly wasn’t the case.
Time will tell whether Amorim and Man United are well suited.
And if not then who knows, perhaps down the line a chance of redemption at West Ham could be on the cards – like with Moyes.
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