Ruben Amorim left one of his former players stunned after his dramatic U-turn. Manchester United’s head coach has already encountered similar conflicts at Old Trafford, with notable disagreements involving players such as Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Collisions with wingers are almost a daily occurrence for the 40-year-old. Brazilian talent Arthur Gomez was surprised when Amorim appeared to promise him a regular starting role, only to back out of that promise a few weeks later while both were still at Sporting CP.
Amorim signed Gomez to Sporting in 2022 after being captivated by his impressive performance with Estoril in the Primeira Liga. At the end of the 2022/23 season, Amorim personally called Gomez to confirm that he was “counting on him” for the upcoming season.
Nevertheless, when Gomez returned from summer break just two weeks later, things had changed as Amorim broke his promise to the player. “The club director called me and informed me that Ruben Amorim had changed his mind and was going to change the team’s tactics,” Gomez told ESPN’s Futebol No Mundo podcast.
“He said I was a player who needed to play, but he never expected me to get a spot in the first team or on the bench. I was shocked then. Two weeks ago he said just one word and now I’m not used much?”
Frustrated and confused, Gomez called Amorim, only to have the manager confirm that the information was the same as the club director. “I said I wasn’t going to try to change his mind,” Gomez explained. “I appreciated the time I spent with him and was going to think about what I could do (regarding his resignation).”
A month later, Gomez was transferred to Cruzeiro. The 27-year-old is currently representing Dynamo Moscow and is determined to prove he can succeed at Europe’s top clubs.
Gomez’s account reveals insight into Amorim’s approach to player management. At first, the Portuguese coach “showered” him with compliments, increasing his confidence and dedication.
But his tactical U-turn felt like too much of a betrayal and Gomez was left with no other option but to step down.
“My debut (for Estoril) was against Sporting. Ruben Amorim wanted me there (to Sporting). He said he never took his eyes off me since my first game in Portugal,” he recalled.
“The first day I arrived, Ruben called me into his office and said: ‘I’m going to push you every day and demand a lot from you. You’re my bet.’ He showered me with praise and gave me a lot of confidence.”
One of Gomez’s bright moments at Sporting was his Champions League debut, coming off the bench against Tottenham and scoring a fantastic goal. “I was really happy and very happy just to be on the bench in the Champions League,” he added.
“I got a call from Amorim, and I went, but the stadium was so excited that almost no one noticed that I was about to enter. Even my wife, who was in the stands, didn’t notice,” he recalled. “It was unbelievable,” he added of the goal.
