Ruben Amorim’s departure from Manchester United has sparked debate not only about why the club acted, but about how the final days of his tenure unfolded behind the scenes. While results, tactics and internal tensions all contributed, new reporting has added a revealing human detail to the story.

It is a moment that, for some, has come to symbolise how the relationship finally reached its end.

Amorim seen laughing and joking at Carrington

According to Chris Wheeler, staff at Manchester United were surprised to see Amorim and his coaching staff leaving the Carrington training ground on Monday laughing and joking.The mood was noticeably different from the tension and visible strain that had surrounded Amorim in recent weeks.For those inside the club, the sight stood out – particularly given how fractious relations had become following public disagreements over tactics, recruitment and authority.While such moments should not be over-interpreted, the contrast was striking.To some observers, it suggested a sense of release once the pressure of the role had lifted, even if the outcome itself was far from ideal.

Did Amorim sense the end was coming?

Wheeler reports that people close to Amorim believe he could see the end approaching. Growing friction with United’s hierarchy, frustration over the lack of January transfer activity and repeated public challenges had steadily weakened his position.

That context has placed Amorim’s final public comments under scrutiny, particularly after the draw at Leeds United. His defiant tone, in which he doubled down on his authority and long-term vision, was interpreted by some as a manager pushing back against an outcome he felt was becoming inevitable.

There is no suggestion that Amorim deliberately engineered his own dismissal. However, the combination of his words, body language and reaction to feedback has led to questions over whether he had already accepted that his time at Old Trafford was drawing to a close.

Benfica return now being discussed

In the aftermath of his exit, there has been talk that Amorim could return to Benfica, where he spent nine years as a player. No formal talks have been confirmed, but the idea of a move back to familiar surroundings has been raised by those close to the situation.

Such a return would offer a sharp contrast to the intensity of his spell in England and provide a chance to reset after a turbulent period.

For United, Amorim’s chapter is now closed. Darren Fletcher has taken interim charge as the club turns its attention to the future.

Whether Amorim hastened his own exit or simply reached an unavoidable endpoint remains open to interpretation. What is clear is that both parties appear ready to move on – and that the final images from Carrington may come to define the end of his time at Manchester United.

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