Liverpool target Rúben Amorim won’t guarantee Sporting future

Rúben Amorim has said he cannot guarantee he will continue as manager of Sporting CP after this season when asked about his future amid ongoing links with Liverpool.

Amorim, 39, is considered one of the top candidates to succeed Jürgen Klopp this summer after Xabi Alonso confirmed his intention to remain at Bayer Leverkusen next season.

Liverpool are looking for a new manager after Klopp announced in January he would leave at the end of the campaign after nearly nine years at the helm.

Asked if he would do as Xabi Alonso did and guarantee he will be at Sporting next season, Amorim said in Friday’s news conference: “No, I can’t guarantee that.

“Sporting are taking care of their future and I can’t make a decision because I have given my word so I can’t go back on it, which is if we don’t win titles, I will leave the club.

“That has always been very clear since the beginning and it was something I thought was important to tell my players because we have to win. First we’ll win titles then we can decide [on the future].

“But that’s not something that concerns me because the future has been planned by the club for some time. We are outlining all the situations and everything we want for next season and that is the main reason as to why I can’t guarantee it.

“Because like I said, I’ve spoken to the players and as a leader I can’t go back on my word. We have to win titles, we are on the right path and we must win this game to do so.”

Amorim’s contract at Sporting expires in June 2026. The Portuguese tactician has been managing the club since March 2020.

“I’m very happy here and I just wanted to clarify that,” he said.

Amorim reportedly has two different release clauses in his contract, one for Portuguese clubs and the other for overseas teams.

“I don’t want to be talking too much about my future,” Amorim said.

“The focus is on [Saturday’s] game [against Benfica]. But I can say that I won’t argue or put any pressure on Sporting, I owe the club a lot and what will happen, will happen.

“But there won’t ever be any pressure from me towards the club because I owe a lot to Sporting.”

Sporting lead the Primeira Liga, one point clear of Saturday’s rivals Benfica, who have a game in hand.