Amorim's sacking cost Manchester United £8.2m as Carrick's slow start piles on pressure

Manchester United paid £8.2 million to terminate Ruben Amorim’s contract in January, according to the club’s end-of-year financial results, with the figure listed under “exceptional items” covering severance packages for the Portuguese coach and his assistants.

The final bill represents roughly half the initially projected £16.7 million compensation liability. Amorim’s subsequent appointment at AC Milan this summer is understood to have activated a reduction clause in his United contract, cutting the payout accordingly. The 14-month tenure ended with Amorim unable to unlock consistent performances from a squad widely considered capable of far more.

Michael Carrick stepped into the role on an interim basis following Amorim’s dismissal and oversaw a late-season revival that secured Champions League qualification. That run earned him the permanent job over the summer — but the early signs of his full-time tenure have given the Old Trafford hierarchy little cause for celebration.

Carrick has taken charge of seven competitive matches in the 2026/27 campaign, winning just two, with no victories in his last three. The season opened with a shock 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Hull City before a 5-2 home win over Ipswich Town offered brief encouragement. A 2-2 draw against Everton, a 4-0 Champions League victory over Azerbaijani side Sabah FK, and a 1-0 derby loss to Manchester City at Old Trafford followed in quick succession.

Things deteriorated further in the Carabao Cup, where United squandered a lead to lose 3-2 against Brighton, before salvaging a 1-1 draw at Fulham in their most recent outing. United have won just one of their opening five Premier League fixtures.

Assuming Carrick is on a contract of comparable value to his predecessor’s, the club is currently committing approximately £1.17 million per match to his tenure — a figure that will sharpen focus on results in the weeks ahead. With managerial instability already costing the club tens of millions in recent years, United’s executives will be eager to avoid another costly restructuring.