Turki Alalshikh Sends Message to Man Utd After They Sack Ruben Amorim

Saudi boxing chief, Turki Alalshikh, has issued his message to the Manchester United board following the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim.

Amorim, who had been at the club for 14 months, was let go after a swipe at club officials in an interview following the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday.

The Portuguese manager claimed he wanted to be “the manager not the coach” and heavily suggested he was ready to depart at the end of his contract in 18 months’ time. This outburst came after a meeting with director of football Jason Wilcox on Friday, in which the team’s tactical approach was discussed, and, reportedly, Amorim’s response to the meeting was very negative.

Ruben Amorim’s Shortcomings at Man Utd

The 40-year-old started a back four in the Boxing Day win over Newcastle United, but then reverted to a back three in the underwhelming draws to both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.

The sacking was reportedly based on his inability to adapt his tactics when necessary, with Amorim also stating that, to get the team to where he wanted, he needed time and money — which he felt he was not going to get.

United finished in a record low 15th place in the 2024/25 Premier League season, however the Portuguese manager wasn’t sacked and steered the club to a respectable sixth in the league before he was let go on Monday.

Less than 24 hours on from his interview after the Leeds draw, United announced Amorim had “departed his role as head coach of Manchester United.”

“With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change. This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish,” the club said.

Former Manchester United player, now coach, Darren Fletcher, is expected to take charge of the Burnley game on Wednesday.

Turki Alalshikh Wants More Departures at Old Trafford

Following the sacking, Saudi Government official, Turki Alalshikh, has had his say on the situation.

Alalshikh is the mastermind behind huge boxing battles that take place in Saudi and all over the world, including Tyson Fury‘s Saudi clash with Francis Ngannou, the Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois bout in London, and Fury’s two losses at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk – both in Saudi.

As well as boxing, the 44-year-old has dipped his toe into the footballing world previously, owning Egyptian club Pyramids FC from 2018 to 2019 and Spanish club Almeria from 2019 until earlier this year.

The Saudi Royal has openly expressed his thoughts on Amorim and the club’s decision to sack him, posting an image of the manager on X alongside a caption translating to: “Praise be to God … finally … may the Glazer [family] follow soon.”

Alalshikh did not hold back from his true feelings regarding the club’s poor predicament, which many fans feel is largely down to the Glazers’ neglectful running of the club since their takeover in 2005.

With the power and resources at his fingertips, could he make his wishes become reality?