Ruben Amorim has been identified by Leeds United as a potential long-term successor for Marcelo Bielsa but, according to Record, the Sporting Lisbon boss now has a £25 million release clause in his contract.
With a fresh-faced, 30-something tactician guiding Sporting to the Primeira Liga title, it is impossible not to be reminded of Andre Villas-Boas’s stunning emergence at Porto all those years ago.
Back in 2011, Chelsea were forced to trigger a £13 million release clause to bring ‘AVB’, Europe’s most highly-rated young coach at the time, to Stamford Bridge.
A decade on, Leeds would have to part with an even bigger sum.
Noticias ao Minuto claims that the Yorkshire giants have identified Amorim as an eventual replacement for the legendary Bielsa.
The enigmatic Argentine is expected to stay at Leeds for at least another year – even if he continues to dodge questions about his future. But Bielsa will turn 66 this summer and it would be negligent not to prepare for life without a man who stands alongside Don Revie in Elland Road folklore.
Amorim, at 36, is some 30 years Bielsa’s junior.
But their admiration for the former Portugal international is understandable. Amorim has Sporting cruising towards their first league title since 2002, balancing a rock-solid defence with a free-flowing attack to devastating effect.
And, like Porto in AVB’s heyday, Sporting are determined to ensure that, when Amorim does go, they will be appropriately compensated.
Amorim has signed a new contract, one that sees his release clause rise to £25 million. If Leeds were to trigger it tomorrow, he would become the most expensive manager in football history.
“We have an idea for the club, which is a long-term one, and hence the agreement (to extend the deal),” Amorim explains.
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