Amorim Told Which Three Man Utd Stars He Can Rely On by Man City Icon, with First Player 'Obvious
Ruben Amorim's tenure as Manchester United manager has been quite bumpy, with the club losing 3-0 to Bournemouth at Old Trafford last Sunday. With the onerous task of rebuilding the squad, the Portuguese boss, who succeeded Erik ten Hag at the helm of United, has already lost four in nine matches since his appointment. The Portuguese manager remains committed to the job, and the club is determined to support him in his efforts.
With a major squad overhaul on the cards, Amorim has the job of identifying the players he can rely on and build his team around. Ex-Manchester City player of the year Shaun Wright-Phillips weighed in on the issue, stating there are only three Manchester United stars that Amorim can actually rely on at the moment.
In an interview with SportsCasting, Wright-Phillips names three players he believes are crucial to United's future under Amorim, first naming the "obvious" in Bruno Fernandes. As captain and one of the most influential players at United, Fernandes has been integral at the heartbeat of the club's midfield and attack.
"I would say Bruno, obviously," said Wright-Phillips. "He is the obvious one. I'd also say Amad, because I quite like him, his work rate, and the way he wants to play. Those two suit the midfield areas that Amorim is likely to want."
Wright-Phillips also brought in Noussair Mazraoui, who has played a lot of the role. "He seems to play a lot and play the way Amorim wants," the former Man City star added, pointing to the Moroccan's versatility and consistency.
But Wright-Phillips was the first to admit that Amorim still has plenty of work to do to identify the rest of those who feature in his plans. "Other than that, I think he's still trying to figure out who he likes and who he doesn't," he said.
Who Could Fall in United's Clear-Out?
As Amorim reshapes Manchester United's squad, some players have come under scrutiny, and the most notable one is Marcus Rashford. The 27-year-old has been omitted from Amorim's matchday squads for three games in a row, calling into question his future at the club. Manchester United has reportedly made Rashford available for sale, and while a January exit seems unlikely, a summer move appears more plausible.
Reports indicate that United are hoping to command between £50m-£60m from a potential sale of Rashford. The other players who may well go in January are Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen, and backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir as their contracts near expiration.
Not all departures are confirmed, though. Harry Maguire, for example, has pleased Amorim, who labeled him "perfect" for his three-man back configuration. United's hierarchy reportedly is in talks to renew the English defender's contract, further cementing his position under the new regime.
The Future of Manchester United
He will most definitely be under pressure with such an overhaul of the Manchester United squad. With few players fitting into his long-term vision, the need for swift and correct decisions about the future will be paramount. Whether that is building around Fernandes, Diallo, and Mazraoui or moving on from established players, the ability to make those decisions will more than likely define Amorim's tenure at Old Trafford.
With the full revamp of the squad yet to be unveiled, one thing seems sure: an extended road lies ahead for Amorim, but with the backing of the club, and a few key players, he might just about turn things around.
