Benfica was able to provide Reuben Amorim with a lifeline from the calamity of Manchester United. The Portuguese heavyweights have been closely monitoring Amorim’s difficult situation at Old Trafford. Joan Nonau Haropes, the frontrunner for becoming Benfica’s next president, traveled to Manchester over the weekend to see the Red Devils lose their derby at Etihad Stadium.
Lopez has openly expressed his intention to return Amorim to Benfica if he can defeat Louis Costa in the upcoming elections, and now he is leading the polls. Lopez attended Etihad to see United’s 3-0 defeat to City. He was discovered along with his vice president Nuno Gomez, one of Amorim’s closest friends who played with him in both Benfica and Portugal, and general director Pedro Ferreira.
The sighting comes a day after Gomez told the Portuguese press that Amorim’s fate returned to Estadio Dals and spent nine years as a player as a member of the club’s academy.
When asked whether their friendship would pave the way for Amorim, a lifelong Benfica supporter, to take over if he wins the election, Gomez said, “Ruben Amorim is Manchester United’s coach and I can’t answer that question.”
However, he added: “One thing I know, Reuben Amorim will one day become Benfica’s coach.”
Gomez also praised Lopez, saying, “Joao has shown that in recent years we can change Benfica and make it very different from what it was in recent years.”
Benfica’s current manager, Bruno Lage, is not expected to remain when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The former female boss could have departed even earlier if Lopez defeated Costa and former president Luis Filipe Vieira in the October 25 election.
The Lisbon tycoon has also expressed his desire to return Citystar Bernardo Silva to Benfica.
Despite the club’s worst start to the season in over 30 years, United claims that Amorim still has support.
But Amorim further questioned his future by declaring that he prefers to be fired rather than to change his team formation and football philosophy.
For the latest broken stories and headlines, sign up for the Daily Express MUFC newsletter or join our WhatsApp community here.
