Neville Speaks Out After Amorim's Dismissal from Manchester United
Following Ruben Amorim's sudden departure from Manchester United, Gary Neville has broken his silence, offering a frank assessment of the situation at the club. Amorim's sacking, which comes just 14 months after his appointment in November 2024, has sent shockwaves through the football world.
Manchester United announced Amorim's departure on Monday, January 5, 2026, citing the club's current position of sixth in the Premier League as the primary reason for the change. The club stated that the decision was made to provide the team with the best possible opportunity to secure the highest possible league finish. Darren Fletcher has been named as interim manager and will take charge of the team for the upcoming match against Burnley.
Neville, a former Manchester United defender and prominent Sky Sports pundit, has been a vocal observer of Amorim's tenure. He had previously criticized Amorim's "excuse mentality" after the manager suggested that media criticism was affecting the players. However, in light of the recent developments, Neville has adopted a more nuanced perspective.
Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Neville acknowledged the growing frustration within Amorim in the weeks leading up to his dismissal. "Something's happened there in the last week with the quotes that are coming out that mean that Ruben Amorim is now starting to unleash a little bit," Neville said. He added that Amorim's comments suggested he was "not happy with something within the hierarchy".
Reports suggest that a power struggle over transfer policy contributed to Amorim's downfall. It's claimed that Amorim clashed with the club's hierarchy after demanding that the recruitment department "do their job". Despite a net spend of £165m last summer, including the signings of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha, the team failed to show sustained improvement.
Manchester United insists that Amorim received 100% backing and that his removal was due to a lack of progress. The club points to the approximately £250m spent since his appointment as evidence of their support. However, sources close to Amorim suggest that he felt undermined by the club's structure, particularly the influence of Director of Football Jason Wilcox.
Amorim's record at Manchester United includes guiding the team to the UEFA Europa League Final in May 2025, which they ultimately lost to Spurs. However, his Premier League record was less impressive, with a win percentage of just 31.9%, the lowest of any permanent Manchester United manager in the Premier League era. He also oversaw United's lowest Premier League finish, 15th, last season.
Neville believes that the issues at Manchester United run deeper than just the manager. He has previously stated that a "big cultural overhaul" is needed at the club. He suggests that the club must empower the manager to pick the team and the system.
