EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim, and if the next call does not go right, it could prove to be an expensive decision for the club’s hierarchy
Ruben Amorim’s sacking could have wide-ranging consequences(Image: 2025 Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA)
Manchester United’s decision to sack Ruben Amorim could cost the club more than £50MILLION – and even see them lose another £10m in sponsorship payments.
Despite the Red Devils being positioned in sixth placed, just three points off the top four, Amorim was abruptly sacked after the 1-1 draw against Leeds United. His marching orders were given less than 24 hours after his furious post-match press conference which saw him lash out at several United board members and other United pundits like Gary Neville.
At present, Darren Fletcher will be in temporary charge of the club and may be for a while, as they do not want to rush their new managerial appointment decision. But if Fletcher and his future replacement do not deliver Champions League football, United will have to rue a massive financial loss.
Football finance expert and academic Kieran Maguire exclusively told the Manchester Evening News: “The true financial cost will be found out at the end of the season. If Manchester United qualify for the Champions League under Darren Fletcher or whoever it’s going to be, then that’s worth a minimum of £50m to the club.
“And in all probability, if they do reasonably well in the Champions League, then they can make £100m. And if they do very well, they get to the semi-finals or the final, they’ll make £150m.
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“If they win it, they qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029 and that’s another £100 million on top. So that is the big picture. My understanding is that I think that they were probably budgeting on getting Europa League place. Jim Ratcliffe’s quite impatient.
“He wants Champions League football next season and he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to get there. Yes, the financial costs are significant. I think Manchester United has spent £80m or £90m on management sackings since Sir Alex left.
United’s failure to reach the Champions League cost them £50m (Image: 2025 UEFA)
“And that includes the payoff to Sir Alex’s entourage, so it’s an expensive business getting it wrong in terms of the managerial appointment. But not qualifying for the Champions League is the biggest potential cost for a club such of the calibre of Manchester United.”
The financial damages would not stop there. United also suffer a £10m penalty clause in their shirt sponsorship deal with Adidas.
Referring to this decision, he said: “Adidas have got a £10million penalty clause in their deal with Manchester United if they don’t qualify for Champions League.
“As far as sponsors and commercial partners are concerned, nobody cares about the Europa League or certainly don’t care about the Europa Conference.
United are sixth in the table(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
“Denmark’s third best team on a Thursday night doesn’t produce a lot of interest, doesn’t generate viewing figures, doesn’t generate the same type of copy as if you’ve got Barcelona or PSG or Bayern Munich coming to town.”
United missed out on European football entirely last season, as a result of finishing 15th and failing to beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final. Amorim left United in sixth position, just four points off the top four.
But the situation is precarious, as United are only four points away from 14th placed Crystal Palace.
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