Ruben Amorim explains Cristiano Ronaldo’s nickname for him as he gives his first interview as Man United boss

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has revealed the backstory behind the nickname given to him by club legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Amorim arrived at Old Trafford on Monday and met members of the club’s management as he prepares to take over at United after being named the club’s new boss following the sacking of Erik ten Hag last month.

The 39-year-old faces a monumental task to turn United around as they have slumped to their worst-ever start in the Premier League ahead of the Dutchman’s sacking.

In his wake, Ten Hag’s former assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy acted as interim manager, restoring morale within the club by going four games unbeaten in all competitions.

The club are currently 13th in the Premier League and have won just four of their first eleven games in the competition.

The dismal start has left the club closer to the relegation zone than league leaders Liverpool, and marks another summer of spending with more than £180 million spent on bolstering the ranks during the transfer window.

In his first interview since taking charge at Old Trafford, Amorim revealed that his compatriot Ronaldo had nicknamed him ‘the poet’.

‘Yes. But it’s funny, because I like to speak, not that much, but when I speak, I speak, I think I speak from my heart.’ Amorim told MUTV.

“I think people feel like it was just to have fun.”

Amorim is just nine days older than Ronaldo, and his debut season as a player in the Portuguese top flight came just months after Ronaldo took his first step towards football immortality by joining United in 2003.

The pair appeared together several times for the Portuguese national team before Amorim hung up his boots in 2017 to embark on a career in management.