Advertisement

Nani has told Man United to give Ruben Amorim two things amid Erik ten Hag reality

Nani with incoming Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim.
-Credit: (Image: Zed Jameson/PA Wire)


Manchester United icon Nani has told his old club they must give Ruben Amorim two things - after his one-time Portugal teammate was chosen to succeed Erik ten Hag in the top job at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag's two-and-a-half-year tenure came to an end on Monday with the controversial 2-1 defeat to West Ham proving to be his final match in charge. On Friday, United announced Amorim would take over (from November 11) during this month's international break.

Given it will be the 39-year-old's first job outside of his homeland, he might come as an unknown quantity despite winning five trophies in four years at Sporting. The Portuguese ended the Lions' 19-year wait to win a title - guiding them to their Liga Portugal trophy in his debut season.

READ MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already explained why United didn't appoint Ruben Amorim earlier

READ MORE: Ruben Amorim reveals why he chose United amid criticism and mixed Sporting response

Nani briefly played alongside Amorim for Portugal and he reckons he has the qualities to do a great job at Old Trafford. However, he warned that the club will have to hand him two things - "patience and excellent" players.

"The only thing I can say is I wish him good luck," the now-Estrela da Amadora star Nani said after their 5-1 defeat against Sporting. "He has done an excellent job at Sporting and I hope he can do the same at United - a great club, one of the best clubs in the world.

"I think he's in an excellent club, where with patience and with excellent players, United will give a good response because he has all the qualities to do so."

While Ten Hag was in charge, the club forked out around £600million on new players, signing 21 players across five transfer windows. The Dutchman won a domestic cup in both of his first full seasons - the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in May this year.

However, United recorded their lowest-ever Premier League finish of eighth during the 2023/2024 season. Amorim, meanwhile, has already ruled out signing some of his Sporting players.

"[Viktor] Gyokeres costs €100milllion (£84m) and it's very difficult. I'm not [going to] pick up any Sporting player in January," he admitted to the media.