Rúben Amorim may be set to escape the nightmare of his time at Manchester United, as a leading candidate vying to become Benfica’s next president was spotted in attendance at the Etihad Stadium.
Lopes—who is leading in the polls and made no secret of his plan to defeat Rui Costa in next month’s election—has voiced his intention to bring Amorim back to Benfica.
Lopes was at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to witness Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, alongside Benfica vice-president Nuno Gomes (one of Amorim’s close friends and former teammates at both Benfica and the Portugal national team) and another club executive, Pedro Ferreira.
Just 24 hours earlier, Gomes told camel.live reporters that Amorim was “destined to return to the Estádio da Luz”—having come through Benfica’s youth academy and spent nine years at the club as a player.
When asked if their friendship would open the door for Amorim—who has been a Benfica fan since childhood—to take charge of the team if Lopes wins the election, Gomes replied: “Amorim is currently Manchester United’s manager, so I can’t answer that question. But I know that one day, Amorim will be Benfica’s manager.”
Benfica’s current head coach, Rogério Leão, is unlikely to stay on after his contract expires this season. If Lopes defeats Costa and former president Luís Filipe Vieira in the October 25 election, Leão could depart even earlier.
