Ruben Amorim revealed Friday that he was told by Manchester United "it was now or never" as he looked ahead to taking over the Old Trafford hotseat midway through the season.
The 39-year-old Sporting Lisbon coach was confirmed as the new United manager earlier in the day to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
Amorim said that he could have accepted "three times" more money from another club but his heart was set on United.
However, his desire was to stay with Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season and then switch to the English giants in the summer -- an idea quickly quashed by United.
"The only question I made was to go at the end of the season," Amorim told a news conference.
"But I was told it was now or never. I had three days to make the decision. That's what I did.
"If I rejected it now, in six months I would not have got it. I didn't want to regret making this decision."
On Friday, Amorim saw Sporting defeat Estrala 5-1 for a 10th win in 10 Portuguese league games this season.
"It's my choice to leave Sporting," added Amorim, who will officially take charge of United on November 11 and admitted he had already planned to leave Sporting at the end of the season.
He said it was a difficult decision which "will completely change my life".
"I had the best period of my life here, but it's my choice" although "I changed my mind several times", he said. "Manchester was the club I wanted after Sporting."
AFP add
Ruud van Nistelrooy says he is "motivated" to help turn Manchester United's season around and wants to stay at the club as he prepares the players for a high-profile match against Chelsea on Sunday.
The Dutchman is in temporary charge at Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag was sacked earlier this week following a terrible start to the season, with United in 14th place in the Premier League.
Van Nistelrooy oversaw a 5-2 win against Leicester in the League Cup on Wednesday as talks continue over the potential appointment of Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim.
Amorim has promised to clarify his future after the Portuguese champions play on Friday.
Former United striker Van Nistelrooy, who returned to the club in July as part of Ten Hag's refreshed background team, looks set to take charge against Chelsea and could even oversee the team until the upcoming international break.
