Ruben Amorim sent Viktor Gyokeres transfer message as Man United star hails Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruben Amorim started work at Manchester United less than 24 hours after saying goodbye to his Sporting CP squad.

Football moves fast, as Ruud van Nistelrooy found out at Carrington on Monday. He had also walked his team off the pitch a day earlier but was told his time at United was up.

A flock of coaches who were under Amorim’s wing at Sporting flew over from Lisbon to Manchester alongside the head coach himself and Van Nistelrooy was subsequently told that his services were no longer required.

The Dutchman went unbeaten in the four games he took charge of as interim boss, having initially been brought in as a supporting coach by Erik ten Hag this summer. Amorim has cut almost all ties to his predecessor and is looking to the future, which could involve a few former players.

READ MORE: Ruben Amorim makes Ruud van Nistelrooy decision as Manchester United confirm four departures

READ MORE: What Ruben Amorim did when he arrived at Carrington to start work as Manchester United head coach

Sporting chief makes Gyokeres transfer admission

Sporting president Frederico Vandaras says he is helpless to prevent Viktor Gyokeres from leaving if a club pays out his £83million release clause, but believes the chances of that happening in January are slim.

The Swede has inevitably been linked with United after scoring 23 goals in 18 matches this season, three of which came against Manchester City in the Champions League. Both the player and Amorim have cooled speculation of a transfer in recent weeks.

However, Sporting chief Vandaras was unable to rule out his exit. "I can't promise anything,” he said. “If a club arrives and pays the release clause, if he (Gyokeres) wants to go, he will go, But I do not think this will happen in January."

MEN Sport says:Gyokeres seems destined for a summer move but there are still questions over whether he is one for United, especially given his price tag.

The Portuguese league is ranked by UEFA’s coefficient as only the seventh best top-flight in Europe behind the Dutch and French. Outside of the big three in Portugal, the competition is pretty poor.

United were similarly linked with Benfica’s Darwin Nunez in 2022 before Liverpool snapped him up. That should come as a warning of what could unravel if he renews ties with Amorim in the Premier League. He might turn out to be a good fit, but there is undoubtedly an element of risk attached.

Casemiro sends message to Van Nistelrooy

Casemiro has been one of the first United players to react to Van Nistelrooy’s departure from United. Van Nistelrooy was a popular figure both among fans and players, and his short stint as interim stabilised United during a rocky period.

The United hero had outlined his desire to stay on as an assistant under Amorim but did not receive such an offer from the Portuguese. Van Nistelrooy was previously the head coach at PSV Eindhoven, where he won the Dutch cup and equivalent of the Community Shield.

Casemiro has taken to social media to wish him the best ahead of his next endeavour. Writing on Instagram, he said of Van Nistelrooy: "Forever grateful. Legend."

MEN Sport says:The last few weeks have put Van Nistelrooy in the shop window for another head coach role, having done himself no harm as interim boss of United. Quite frankly, it would have been a shame to see him stuck as an assistant when he could lead an esteemed team.

Amorim always looked destined to bring his own crew with him to United and Van Nistelrooy’s desire to stay on looked ill-fated from the outset. But he can hold his head high knowing he did what he could in the time he had.