Ruben Amorim isn’t just landing back on his feet in Milan — he might be handing Manchester United an unexpected financial lifeline at the same time.
The Portuguese manager, who was fired by United in January 2026 after just 14 months on the job, has agreed to a two-year deal (with an option for a third) to take over as AC Milan’s head coach. And while the move gets Amorim back into the game, it also triggers a clause in his severance package that could save his old club a significant chunk of change.
The Cost of Cutting Ties
United’s decision to part ways with Amorim came with a hefty price tag — one that was initially projected to reach nearly £16 million. That figure, however, wasn’t set in stone. According to reports at the time of his dismissal, the full £15.9 million payout depended on certain conditions, including whether Amorim found a new job within a specific window.
Now that he’s officially signed with AC Milan, those compensation payments are expected to be slashed. Exactly how much United will save isn’t clear, but trimming what was shaping up to be one of the more expensive managerial exits in recent memory is a welcome break for a club that’s about to spend heavily this summer.
A Reunion on the Cards
The timing of Amorim’s return creates an immediate subplot: United and Milan are scheduled to meet in a preseason friendly on August 15 in Wroclaw, Poland. That means Amorim will face his former employers just weeks after walking through the San Siro doors, replacing Massimiliano Allegri as the Rossoneri’s tactician.
For United, the focus is now on building for the new season under Michael Carrick, who took over as head coach after Amorim’s exit. The club has reportedly agreed to a £35 million deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson and is still scouting for a left-back, a left winger, and another central midfielder. Names like Lewis Hall and Bradley Barcola have been floated as potential targets, while West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes would cost £80 million unless the Hammers soften their stance in negotiations.
Amorim, meanwhile, gets a fresh start in Serie A with a club that has a history of reviving careers. His time at Old Trafford was turbulent, ending just hours after he publicly criticized the club’s hierarchy following a 1-1 draw at Leeds. The attack — launched in a post-match press conference — proved to be his final act in Manchester, and the subsequent payout became a major talking point among United’s financial planners.
Now, with Amorim back in work, the bill gets smaller. And for a team with a shopping list that keeps growing, that’s real news.
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