Ruben Amorim has emerged as the leading contender to take over at AC Milan, ESPN reported, giving the Serie A club a clear front-runner in its coaching search and adding a financial wrinkle for Manchester United.
ESPN's follow-up report said United could save part of the compensation earmarked for Amorim and his staff if the Portuguese coach is appointed by Milan. A deal has not been finalised, and United declined to comment on any potential saving because Milan have not made an official announcement.
Milan Search Follows Allegri Exit
AC Milan are looking for a new coach after firing Massimiliano Allegri last month. ESPN reported that Allegri's second spell ended after Milan finished fifth in Serie A and missed out on Champions League qualification.
The coaching search is part of a broader reset. Milan owner RedBird Capital also dismissed the club's chief executive and sporting director after the underwhelming end to the 2025-26 campaign.
Amorim, 41, is now in a strong position to be appointed, a source told ESPN. That wording matters: he is the leading candidate, not a confirmed hire.
United Compensation Provision Adds Second Layer
Manchester United accounts released in February included a provision of £15.9 million relating to money owed to Amorim and his coaching staff after he was sacked in January.
ESPN reported that the figure represents the highest amount United could have to pay, and that the total could be lower if Amorim takes a new job. United's position is cautious because the Milan process has not yet produced an announced appointment.
Amorim left Old Trafford after a difficult 14-month spell. He had arrived in November 2024 after impressing at Sporting CP, then took United to a 15th-place Premier League finish and a Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
AC Milan Reset Carries Wider Stakes
Milan last won Serie A in 2022, and ESPN listed their league finishes since then as fourth, second, eighth and fifth. That run explains why the club is treating the coaching decision as more than a routine summer change.
There is also a possible quick reunion on the calendar. ESPN reported that Milan and United are set to play a preseason fixture in Wroclaw, Poland, on Aug. 15.
For Milan, Amorim would represent a defined coaching direction after the Allegri exit and front-office changes. For United, the same appointment could turn a former manager's unresolved compensation line into a smaller bill, but only if Milan take the final step.