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Incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim maintains he did not negotiate a move to West Ham United last summer despite travelling to London to meet with the club’s owner David Sullivan.
The Sporting CP boss, who will take over at Old Trafford during the international break, denied any “secrecy” involved in April’s meeting, but did concede it was “disrespectful.”
But despite previously accepting his trip to London was “a mistake”, Amorim maintains he did not negotiate to succeed David Moyes at the London Stadium, with the Hammers eventually appointing Julen Lopetegui last summer.
“I went to England,” Amorim said when pushed to clarify the situation surrounding West Ham ahead of Sporting’s Champions League match against Manchester City. “I didn’t go to negotiate, I went to meet the owner.
“I had made my decision. If you think I already wanted to leave last year, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
The 39-year-old accepts expectations will be high when he takes over at Old Trafford later this month, and he recognises that could increase if Sporting overcome City.
“I don’t think about that,” said Amorim at a press conference.
“My focus is on winning the match for Sporting. The conclusions are not important for me because they could be erroneous. If we win tomorrow they will think the new Alex Ferguson has arrived.
“That will be very difficult to live up to. It could increase expectations. I don’t think about that.”
PA contributed to this report
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