Amorim's apology to United faithful
Ruben Amorim has finally addressed his abrupt departure from Manchester United, offering an apology to the club's supporters for remaining silent since his dismissal in January. The 41-year-old, who was sacked midway through a turbulent 14-month spell at Old Trafford, confessed he had not found the right moment to communicate with the fans until now.
"I didn't have [the] opportunity – and I am sorry for that – to say something to the Manchester United fans at the moment [but] I am really proud to have been their coach for a year," Amorim said during his unveiling as AC Milan head coach.
The Portuguese manager had refrained from making any public statements or social media posts about his time in the Premier League, but the move to the Serie A giants has prompted a long-awaited reflection.
Learning from past mistakes
Amorim stopped short of detailing specific errors during his tenure at United, but acknowledged the experience had sharpened his hunger to succeed. He suggested that the complex context of his job in Manchester made it difficult to isolate individual missteps.
"It is hard to explain the mistakes as I would have to explain all the context of the last adventure," he explained. "The only thing I can say is that I learn a lot and I did some mistakes. Everyone learns from their experience. I think I will be better. That is all."
The former Sporting boss insisted the painful chapter had not dented his belief in his methods, though he conceded some adjustments were necessary. His immediate task at Milan is to inspire a squad that stumbled badly at the end of last season, taking only seven points from the final eight games and missing out on Champions League qualification.
New chapter at AC Milan
Amorim, who signed a three-year contract, was officially presented on Wednesday and immediately outlined his determination to keep veteran midfielder Luka Modric at the club. The 40-year-old Croatian has an option to extend his deal but has yet to commit.
"Modric is a player we want to keep for his experience," Amorim said. "I know the board spoke with Modric and I spoke to him two times. If I need to, I will go and get the guy. He played really well and is a key point for us, especially in the beginning, to keep possession."
Interestingly, Milan's pre-season schedule includes a reunion with United on 15 August in Poland, affording Amorim a swift chance to face his former employers.
Quick Facts
- New contract: Three years with AC Milan
- Manchester United tenure: 14 months (sacked January 2026)
- Modric contract option: Extension yet to be signed
- Friendly vs Man Utd: 15 August in Poland
Key Takeaways
- Ruben Amorim has publicly apologised to Manchester United fans for his silence after being sacked, describing himself as "proud" to have managed the club.
- The Portuguese coach admitted he made mistakes at Old Trafford but did not specify them, citing the complexity of the context.
- Amorim aims to convince Luka Modric to stay at AC Milan, underlining the midfielder's importance to his plans.
- A pre-season friendly between Milan and United on 15 August will mark an early reunion for the new Rossoneri boss.