Manchester United have 'every reason to be excited' over potential 'Cristiano Ronaldo of managers' Ruben Amorim

TNT Sports expert James Horncastle questioned whether Manchester United have found the "Cristiano [Ronaldo] of managers," with the Sporting CP boss heading to Old Trafford after a thumping 4-1 victory over Manchester City in his Estadio Jose Alvalade farewell. Viktor Gyokeres netted a hat-trick to sink Pep Guardiola's side to their third consecutive defeat on Tuesday.

James Horncastle says Manchester United fans will be "hoping" the club have unearthed the "Cristiano [Ronaldo] of managers", as Ruben Amorim sealed his Sporting CP legacy with a 4-1 win over Manchester City on Tuesday.

Viktor Gyokeres' hat-trick helped Amorim's side to their 15th win in their last 16 matches across all competitions, maintaining their unbeaten start to the European competition while also holding a perfect record in the Primeira Liga.

Amorim takes charge of United on November 11 after being named as Erik ten Hag's successor, and Horncastle likened the pick-up to when all-time great Ronaldo was signed from the same Portuguese club in 2003.

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"You go back through United's history, who did they find at Sporting? They found Cristiano, didn't they?" Horncastle said. "Have they found the Cristiano of managers? Thats what they'll be hoping.

"On the basis of a performance like that tonight. I think United fans have got every reason to be excited."

Amorim has enjoyed a highly-successful four-and-a-half year reign at Sporting, picking up four major trophies, including two Primeira Liga titles.

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And while his track record is promising, Horncastle was wary of putting too much expectation on the incoming United boss, laying out the difficulty of the challenge ahead.

The 39-year-old will join the club amid their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign and without the chance to bolster his squad until January.

"In the same way that people were excited about Ten Hag when Ajax went to the Bernabeu and won, went to Juventus and won, it's very different for a manager when they get into a building, go into Carrington and see what they've got.

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"United, he's going in without pre-season, without a transfer window, inheriting a team which is like Ajax reunited from four years ago.

"He's not going to have Viktor Gyokeres there, [Francisco] Trincao there, he's not going to have [Ousmane] Diomande there.

"It's a lot to expect a seamless transition from him but you can clearly see what he's capable of. Not only tonight, but the fact that Sporting are perfect, won every game in the league so far.

"As much as people diminish Portuguese football, look what it's done to Man City tonight."

Before being confirmed as the new United boss, speculation had mounted that Amorim would be Pep Guardiola's eventual replacement at City, with Sporting director Hugo Viana heading to Etihad Stadium at the end of the 2024/25 season.

And Horncastle outlined how Viana's influence, as well as Amorim's long-term relationship with the Sporting squad, has influenced his impressive tenure.

"That guy's been working with this group of players for what, four years?" Horncastle said.

"Knows them inside out. The club does everything he wants, he thought he was going to get a call from Hugo Viana to be the next Man City coach.

"Hugo Viana knows Ruben Amorim inside out, that all helps him perform the way he's done as a manager."

Amorim will face City once again, but in the United dugout on December 15, as the incoming boss takes charge of his maiden Manchester derby.

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