RUBEN AMORIM has revealed he did not want to join Manchester United until the end of the season and admitted “I changed my mind several times”.

The Red Devils announced Amorim, 39, as Erik ten Hag’s replacement on Friday morning and he will begin work at Old Trafford on November 11.

Ruben Amorim coached Sporting Lisbon for the first time since being announced as Manchester United boss on Friday night

He has revealed he did not want to leave Sporting for Man Utd until the summer

Ex-Sporting and Man Utd winger Nani embraced Amorim ahead of the game

He will remain in charge of Sporting for their games against Manchester City and Braga – and on Friday evening led the Portuguese champions to a 5-1 win over Estrela Amadora.

The result moves Sporting six points clear at the top of the Primeira Liga.

And Amorim confirmed after the game that he wanted to remain at Sporting until the end of the campaign but was told by Man Utd chiefs it was “now or never”.

He said: “I asked United if it could be at the end of the season. It was what I wanted. United said no. It was now or never. So I had to make a decision.

“This is exactly the context I wanted [United struggling] because I can do things my way.”

Before he added: “I changed my mind several times.

“My concern is not to harm the Sporting team, we’ll see later. I’ll have that concern when I’m at United.”

Amorim also quashed talk he was joining Man Utd for the money.

He said: “Some people say it’s for money. It’s not.

“Other clubs were prepared to pay 3 times more and I refused. This is the club [United] I wanted.”

The feeling around Amorim’s impending departure has divided the Sporting faithful.

Outside the stadium, there was a banner which read: “Amorim, this is not your home anymore, thank you.”

Other fans, though, took flags into the ground declaring their love for the coach who led the club to two titles.

When Amorim’s name was first read out 30 minutes before kick-off, there were whistles and jeers followed by applause.

But when the 39-year-old came out of the tunnel for the game, he received a standing ovation and applauded the fans.

After the game, Amorim said: “Obviously, since this whole situation came about I’ve felt different.

“I understand the anger of some fans and the disappointment. But that’s life. I was moved by the ovation and that’s how it is.

“Even the other statement, when it came out, was on a match day.

“But clubs are now listed companies and they have to present all these things. There were two statements. But that’s how things are, there are things that we can’t control.

“I’m very grateful to the fans and to everything here. People think I wanted to leave straight away. In the next home game, whether we win or lose by 15-0, I’ll be there to see what the fans want to give me.

“I understand their anger, but we move on and time heals everything. It was the best period of my life.”

As Sporting’s manager, Amorim has won two league titles; the first came in 2021, after a 19-year drought.

He has a 2027 contract with Manchester United that may be extended by one year.

He was able to depart Sporting after the Red Devils paid £8.3 million to activate a release clause.

On November 24, he will play his debut game as manager of Manchester United away at Ipswich.

According to reports, United spent an additional £900,000 to get him ahead of schedule rather than having to wait another three weeks.

Since his triumph with Sporting this year, Amorim has been in great demand.

Rivals in the Premier League Before deciding to hire Arne Slot, Liverpool was on the verge of hiring the Lisbon manager.

He was also said to be on a list of those who may succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, and he had discussions with West Ham during the summer.