Amorim is reportedly set to be dismissed as early as this week, repeating the Maresca saga! Manchester United struggles to find a new manager may become a major hurdle.

At the turn of the year, Rúben Amorim publicly challenged his club, questioning Manchester United’s transfer plans and clearly stating he wants a role upgrade—not just as a coach but as a football manager. The 40-year-old Portuguese threatened that if his wishes are unmet, he would depart once his 18-month contract expires. However, the British Manchester Evening News reports that Amorim is unlikely to last the full 18 months and could be sacked as soon as after this week!

Amorim has already strained relations with sporting director Jason Wilcox and transfer chief Christopher Vivell, while CEO Omar Berrada is now turning his attention to owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Since watching Manchester United’s 4-1 thrashing of Wolves on December 8, Sir Jim has not attended any matches in person, and during this period, the club’s situation has changed—and not for the better.

Sir Jim is described by the British media as an elusive figure who admires Amorim, especially for his bluntness. When the owner tries to interfere tactically, Amorim tells him off. However, joking privately and publicly clashing over power struggles are two different matters; Amorim has sparked internal conflicts.

Manchester United’s owner and senior management are reluctant to dismiss Amorim lightly, as he was their first managerial appointment after the takeover. But Sir Jim has a ruthless side—he dismissed sporting director Dan Ashworth, whom he appointed himself, after just five months. Officially due to personality clashes, but the real issue was Ashworth’s doubts about Amorim’s appointment, who had recommended Southgate. In hindsight, this is quite ironic.

Last October, Sir Jim said he would give Amorim three years to rebuild, yet the Manchester Evening News insists this is no longer possible. If Amorim and Wilcox continue working together, tensions will likely persist. Given Sir Jim’s character, he might make a change this week.

Amorim’s actions are seen by British media as emulating former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, who similarly wanted to be a manager rather than just a coach and complained about Chelsea’s transfer dealings without his input. Maresca, who led the team to win the Europa League and Club World Cup, was honorably dismissed on New Year’s Day 2026.

After his final match, Maresca quietly left Stamford Bridge and rejected a £15 million compensation package because he had repeatedly criticized Chelsea’s board and five directors publicly. Maresca was unhappy about lacking sufficient control over transfers and even clashed with Chelsea’s top management over starting lineups and substitutions.

Amorim exhibits similar behavior, insisting on deploying a 3-4-3 formation. British media revealed last week that transfer chief Christopher Vivell questioned this tactic. Amorim also said last year he would leave without compensation, but whether he will honor that remains uncertain.

The Sun reports that all signs point to Amorim likely facing his final week or month in charge at Manchester United. The club’s board is about to hold its annual review meeting, and it remains to be seen if he will participate.

Match results could be the trigger. Amorim will hold a pre-match press conference at Carrington on Tuesday ahead of the Premier League game against Burnley, where every word and gesture will be scrutinized. If another unexpected result occurs against second-from-bottom Burnley and United fail to eliminate Brighton in the FA Cup third round over the weekend, Amorim’s dismissal could become inevitable.

It is said that the Red Devils’ leadership admires candidates like Glasner, Harvey, and Fabregas. Of course, given the lessons from Amorim’s case, it is currently very difficult for Manchester United to find a good coach to take over mid-season, which is the biggest obstacle to a managerial change. It is worth noting that Maresca, recently sacked by Chelsea, was once a subordinate of Wilcox at Manchester City.

If Manchester United achieves favorable results by beating Burnley and Brighton, and even secures positive outcomes in upcoming high-profile matches against Manchester City and Arsenal, Sir Jim and the club’s leadership might consider a “ceasefire agreement” with Amorim, agreeing to differences and continuing to move forward together.