Manchester United’s troubled start to the 2025/26 season has sparked speculation about manager Ruben Amorim’s future.
However, despite mounting pressure, the Red Devils may find it difficult to part ways with the Portuguese coach due to the financial terms of his contract.
Amorim, who joined from Sporting Lisbon, has struggled to turn around United’s fortunes in his first full season, with the team yet to record a win in three matches across all competitions.
The latest setback came in a Carabao Cup penalty shootout loss to League Two side Grimsby Town, highlighting the challenges he faces at the Theatre of Dreams.
Despite these struggles, United’s hierarchy faces a major hurdle: Amorim’s “watertight clause” means that terminating his contract would come at a hefty cost. Earning £125,000 per week, the manager still has roughly 22 months left on his deal, which runs until 2027. Any dismissal would require the club to pay around £11.9 million in compensation, making a managerial change financially challenging.
Amorim himself has acknowledged the club’s deep-rooted issues and has openly questioned how long he will remain in charge. While some early-season results have been disappointing, the financial implications of ending his contract prematurely may outweigh the desire for an immediate managerial change.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, United have repeatedly faced the same pattern: hiring managers with significant contracts, only to dismiss them before they can establish themselves.
In Amorim’s case, the cost of severing ties could deter the club from making a hasty decision, leaving him in place despite early criticism from fans and pundits.