Man United target Rúben Amorim promises a decision after his games against Sporting Lisbon on Friday

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Manchester United goal Ruben Amorim has vowed to clarify his future coaching plans after his Sporting Lisbon team played a Portuguese league game on Friday evening.

Amorim spoke at a press conference on Thursday ahead of the game between league leaders Sporting and Estrela da Amadora. Sporting started its title defense with nine wins in a row.

“We will make the decision after the game tomorrow,” said Amorim. “It will be very clear, so it’s another day.”

The 39-year-old coach's growing reputation and two Portuguese league titles in four seasons attracted Man United, the Erik ten Hag was fired on Monday with the team in 14th place in the English Premier League.

A statement from Sporting to the Lisbon Stock Exchange said United was interested in paying the release clause in Amorim's contract, worth 10 million euros ($10.8 million).

“It’s a negotiation between two clubs,” Amorim said on Thursday. “It's never easy. Despite the clauses it is never easy, they have to talk.”

According to reports in English and Portuguese media, Amorim will move to Manchester for national team games during the next break. That would be his first Man United game on November 24th in Ipswich.

One of Amorim's likely last games against Sporting is Tuesday's hosting of Manchester City in the Champions League.

Amorim has been linked with a move to Man City, where Pep Guardiola has not publicly committed to extending a contract that expires after the season. Man City's next director of football, Hugo Viana, will move from Sporting after this season.

Man United were led by interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy on Wednesday beat Leicester 5-2 in the English League Cup.

Van Nistelrooy, a former Man United star striker who returned in the off-season to help fellow Dutchman Ten Hag, appears ready to coach the team for three more home games: Chelsea visit in the Premier League on Sunday, then PAOK in the Europa League, and Leicester again in the Premier League on November 10th.

Van Nistelrooy said on Thursday that it had been clearly communicated that his new role would only be temporary.

“I was happy with it,” he said at a press conference before Sunday’s game. “I felt called upon to help the club in this situation and of course it was difficult that Erik had to leave.”

Van Nistelrooy, who is under contract as an assistant until next season, said: “You have to change the mindset and embrace it to win, because in the end there are 75,000 people waiting and celebrating and millions watching at home.”

“I think that’s what we’re trying to do,” he continued, “at least on Sunday, and after that we’ll see.”

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