27 February 2026
Official reports have revealed the enormous cost Manchester United will incur after sacking their Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim and his coaching staff, in one of the most expensive managerial terminations in the club's history. Amorim, who was dismissed from his post at Old Trafford last January after just 14 months and 63 matches, will cost the club approximately £15.9 million (around $22 million), according to UEFA's Club Licensing Assessment Report.
United had paid Sporting Lisbon £10 million when they signed Amorim in November 2014, before later having to bear the cost of terminating his contract and those of five members of his coaching staff.
The £15.9 million figure represents the maximum compensation, with the final amount depending on several factors, most notably whether the manager secures a new job within a specified timeframe. This wasn't the first time United paid a hefty price to terminate a coaching contract. The dismissals of Dutch manager Erik ten Hag and sporting director Dan Ashworth previously cost them around £14.5 million.
Thus, the total cost of managerial changes over the past 15 months could exceed £30 million, as the club continues its search for a stable technical project.
In addition to the technical woes, a UEFA report revealed that Manchester United topped the list of clubs with the highest net spending on transfers globally over the last five years, totaling €794 million.
Chelsea came in second, followed by Arsenal, reflecting the English dominance of the transfer market.
The report also indicated that seven of the ten most expensive teams in terms of squad size play in the English Premier League, with Chelsea setting a record with a squad size of €1.746 billion.
In a related development, The Sun reported that Brazilian club Vasco da Gama is considering hiring Amorim after sacking their manager, Fernando Diniz.
Artur Jorge, the Al Rayyan coach, is also among the candidates to lead the struggling Brazilian league side.
Currently, Michael Carrick is in charge on an interim basis, with a permanent manager expected to be appointed next summer. Meanwhile, United's management has confirmed its readiness to continue investing heavily to restore the club to its former glory.
