Man Utd paid £8.2m to sack Amorim but saved millions after his AC Milan move

Manchester United paid £8.2m to terminate Ruben Amorim’s contract in January 2025, according to the club’s newly published financial results — less than half the £16.7m severance originally owed because Amorim subsequently landed the AC Milan job.

The exceptional item of £8.2m covers the severance packages agreed with Amorim and his backroom staff: assistants Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido, Emanuel Ferro and Jorge Vital. Under the terms of his departure, the total liability was set to reduce significantly if Amorim found employment elsewhere, and his appointment at Milan over the summer triggered that reduction.

Amorim lasted just 14 months at Old Trafford after arriving from Sporting CP in November 2023. His tenure produced United’s worst-ever Premier League finish — 15th in 2024-25 — and a defeat in the Europa League final. He departed following a draw with Leeds, with reports at the time pointing to a breakdown in his relationship with the club’s hierarchy. He still had 18 months remaining on his contract when he left.

Now at Milan, Amorim has spoken candidly about lessons learned from his time in England. “I can’t repeat my mistakes from Manchester,” he said after a recent Serie A win over Lecce. “If we don’t have the characteristics to play a certain way, we have to adapt.” Milan currently sit fifth in Serie A under his guidance.

At Old Trafford, former midfielder Michael Carrick was appointed on an interim basis to replace Amorim and guided United back into the Champions League in his first season in charge. His opening to the following campaign has been more difficult, however, with United sitting 12th after one win from their first five league games.