Jose Mourinho reveals he has received a special invite from Man United chief and ‘great businessman’ Sir Jim Ratcliffe and backs ‘good kid’ Ruben Amorim amid poor start at Old Trafford

Jose Mourinho has offered his support to Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim and opened up on his relationship with Sir Jim Ratcliffe. 

Amorim, 40, has endured a difficult start to life at Old Trafford, losing eight of his first 16 Premier League games since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in November.

This has included United suffering defeats in five of their past six Premier League home matches to leave the club languishing in 14th place in the top flight and 14 points off the top four.

Amorim has been wedded to his preferred 3-4-3 system at Old Trafford, but he is yet to positively stamp his impact on United – and the Red Devils’ season rests on the Europa League after they crashed out of the FA Cup to Fulham last weekend. 

But, despite his struggles, legendary Portuguese coach Mourinho, who managed United from 2016 to 2018 – winning the Carabao Cup, Europa League and Community Shield in the process – offered his backing to Amorim.

‘He’s a good kid,’ the 62-year-old told Sky Sports. ‘Always very respectful to me. We had a good relationship for a few years. He knows I wish him well.’ 

Amorim has endured a difficult start to life at United, losing eight of 16 Premier League games

Mourinho has previously acted as a mentor to Amorim and labelled him as a ‘good kid’

Mourinho has acted as somewhat of a mentor to Amorim over the years, with the current United boss visiting the club for a week-long internship when the 62-year-old was manager back in 2018.

Given his tender age, early impact as a young coach in Europe and background in Portugal, there have unsurprisingly been comparison between the two coaches.

Meanwhile, Mourinho also revealed he has a ‘good relationship’ with unpopular United part-owner Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe has come under heavy scrutiny since his arrival in February 2024, with several cost-cutting measures having been implemented at the club.

Mail Sport exclusively revealed last month how Ratcliffe is set to make up to 200 staff redundant which comes after the club culled around 250 staff last year – and several other money-saving actions have taken place.

This included cancelling free coach travel for staff to last year’s FA Cup final, cutting back on ambassadorial salaries and increasing ticket prices, while the Brit also decided to bring to an end Sir Alex Ferguson‘s £2million-a-year role with the club.

However, Mourinho, who admitted he hadn’t been closely following Ratcliffe’s actions at the club, reflected on his encounters with the British billionaire.

‘To be honest I don’t know much about what’s happening,’ Mourinho added on the cuts. 

Mourinho also defended Sir Jim Ratcliffe (R) despite his cost-cutting measures at United

United are having a shocking season and have seemingly got worse since Amorim’s arrival

‘I know Sir Jim Ratcliffe. I’m not saying we are big friends but we have a good relationship.

‘I know him well. He invited me to his house a couple of times. I see him as a good person and a great businessman. 

‘Of course, I feel for some of the people that I know [losing their jobs], but hopefully it goes in the right direction.’

Elsewhere, Amorim had previously opened up on his relationship with Mourinho when he arrived at Old Trafford in November, explaining how the former United boss had given him advice.

‘He sent me a message and told me that this is a lovely club, a big club, with lovely people – and that is correct. It still is,’ Amorim explained.

‘But a lot of things change and we are in a different building now, we are building a new one, and I am a different guy. 

‘I was learning at the time and I hope to now teach something here too, to my players. 

‘But the club is still big and is still the best club in England, and we want to win again, that is all.’