Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will conduct Manchester United’s pre-match media before Sunday’s Premier League game against Chelsea, the clearest sign yet Ruben Amorim will not be in charge this weekend.
United are negotiating Amorim’s release from Sporting, who have their own league game against Estrela on Friday.
Sporting also have a key Champions League game against Manchester City in Lisbon next Tuesday.
Multiple sources in Portugal have said Sporting are looking for a 5m euro (£4.2m) compensation fee for Amorim’s coaches to move to Old Trafford, although this has not been confirmed by United.
It is not completely out of the question he will remain in charge at Sporting until the November international break.
Former United and Netherlands striker Van Nistelrooy will be in charge for the first time when Leicester City visit Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup last 16 on Wednesday.
He was placed in temporary charge after Erik ten Hag’s sacking on Monday, with United 14th in the Premier League.
Manchester United can be ‘unstoppable’
It is unclear whether Van Nistelrooy, who spent five years at United as a player from 2001 to 2006, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and FA Community Shield, would remain at the club if Amorim is appointed.
He managed PSV Eindhoven for a year from 2022 before joining at Ten Hag’s assistant in the summer.
Van Nistelrooy said United “can be unstoppable” when “players, staff and supporters pull together”.
“Even on an interim basis, it is a great honour to manage the club I love for however long I am asked to do so,” he said in his programme notes before the Leicester game.
“When I returned in the summer as Erik’s assistant, it was because I believe that Manchester United can climb back to the levels that I knew here as a player,” Van Nistelrooy wrote in his programme notes before the Leicester game.
“I still have that belief, but it will take time and a lot of hard work.
“We’ve seen the squad’s potential at times this season, but clearly not often enough.”
