Fabrizio Romano has delivered a significant update amidst the ongoing speculation about Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United.
Ten Hag has faced intense scrutiny due to a series of poor results. Just last week, The Times reported that the 53-year-old manager was on ‘thin ice’ at United. The club’s dismal start to the season, their worst in 61 years, led to the emergence of several potential replacement candidates, including former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.
Furthermore, highly-rated Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim’s name was thrown into the mix, especially after United’s consecutive heavy defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle.
However, journalist Fabrizio Romano recently addressed these speculations and played down the rumors during a recent appearance on The United Stand, a YouTube channel.
When asked about the situation, Romano stated, “I’ve seen all these stories and rumors surrounding Erik ten Hag and his future. From what I’m hearing, the reality is that internally, they never seriously considered the possibility of parting ways with Erik ten Hag.”
He went on to clarify, “Manchester United has never initiated contact with Zinedine Zidane or Ruben Amorim.”
Manchester United promptly refuted the reports last week, declaring it was “categorically false” that they were exploring alternatives to Ten Hag.
Nevertheless, Amorim was confronted with the question during a press conference after Sporting’s 4-2 victory over Farense in the Portuguese League Cup.
In response to inquiries about United’s supposed interest, he said, “This year, I’m not revisiting the same conversations as last year. I won’t be commenting on these situations.”
Pressed for more insight into a potential move to Old Trafford, he responded, “We can’t predict the future; it depends on the results. It’s more about the overall team needs and additional pressure so we can’t hide.”
Concerning his future, he stated, “I have an idea for the end of the season, but I won’t reveal it now. The results and the context might lead us in a different direction. I won’t comment on these matters. I haven’t been contacted by Manchester United.”
Erik ten Hag surely breathed a sigh of relief over the weekend as Bruno Fernandes secured a crucial three points with a last-minute goal against struggling Fulham.