Ruben Amorim gave incredibly high praise to his assistant Carlos Fernandes ahead of their move to Manchester United.
Amorim is set to become the new manager at Old Trafford after the Premier League giants reached an agreement with Sporting Lisbon.
United will pay the Portuguese coach’s €10million [£8.3million] release clause to appoint him as their replacement for Erik ten Hag.
talkSPORT understands that deals have also been completed for Amorim’s assistants Carlos Fernandes and Adelio Candido.
And it’s Fernandes who has received plaudits from United’s incoming boss ahead of the biggest move of their career.
Speaking in 2022 via commentator Patrick Kendrick, Amorim hyped up his colleague and likened him to Jose Mourinho.
“My number two is Carlos Fernandes, he’s been my right-hand man right from day one. He’ll be a much better coach than me.
“I often say if I become Bobby Robson, then he’ll be my Jose Mourinho! But there’s plenty of time, we’ve signed a 15-year deal!”
Fernandes will undoubtedly be chuffed to be likened to one of the greatest football managers of all-time in Mourinho.
The Portuguese icon, who is a former United manager, has won two Champions Leagues, three Premier Leagues, two Serie A titles and LaLiga among various other honours.
Amorim completed a coaching internship with Mourinho in 2018, but he believes Fernandes could be the one to emulate his success.
Fernandes, who is just 29 years old, was first an assistant manager for Benfica’s youth before becoming their manager in 2017 for a year.
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He then became assistant to Amorim at fellow Liga Portugal side Casa Pia before they moved to Braga’s B team and then senior side.
The duo won the Taca da Liga with Braga in the 2019/20 campaign ahead of their moves to Sporting later that season.
Two Liga Portugal titles and two Taca da Liga wins have come their way since, with the partnership most certainly a successful one.
Amorim and Fernandes are now set to bring their expertise to United who are a stark contrast to the first-placed Sporting this season.
They sit 14th in the Premier League having won only three of their first nine games, with defeat coming in four of those.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is their current interim boss and will take charge in their Carabao Cup clash against Leicester on Thursday, live on talkSPORT 2, and the Dutchman could also be in charge of the team for the Premier League showdown with Chelsea on Sunday.
United will likely have to wait for Amorim’s first game in the dugout as talkSPORT understands he will be in charge of Sporting’s match against Estrela da Amadora on Friday.
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