Ruben Amorim has finally addressed Manchester United's supporters, offering a public apology for his silence since leaving Old Trafford in January — and doing so, somewhat fittingly, from the stage of his new club AC Milan's unveiling press conference.

The 41-year-old Portuguese coach signed a three-year contract with the Serie A giants and faced the Italian media on Wednesday afternoon for a 35-minute briefing alongside club owner Gerry Cardinale. It was not until the very last question of the session that his 14 months in the north-west of England came up — but when they did, Amorim spoke with genuine candour.

"I didn't have the opportunity — and I am sorry for that — to say something to the Manchester United fans at the moment," he said. "I am really proud to have been their coach for a year."

Since departing Old Trafford, Amorim had remained conspicuously quiet, posting nothing on social media and giving no interviews to reflect on a troubled spell that ended with United sacking him. He acknowledged on Wednesday that the experience had been a difficult one, admitting he made mistakes along the way, though he stopped short of specifying exactly what they were.

"It is hard to explain the mistakes as I would have to explain all the context of the last adventure," he said. "The only thing I can say is that I learned a lot and I did some mistakes. Everyone learns from their experience. I will try to change but there are some things you never change. I think I will be better. That is all."

The noises out of Milan's Cardinale were equally telling. The owner indicated he intends to take a hands-on role at the club after a wretched finish to last season, in which Milan claimed just seven points from their final eight league games and missed out on Champions League qualification altogether. Amorim, then, arrives with something to prove on both sides of the equation — his own reputation and a club badly in need of direction.

Modric the Immediate Priority

One of Amorim's first orders of business has been a personal charm offensive on Luka Modric. The 40-year-old Croatia captain holds an option to extend his current deal by a further year but has not yet committed to doing so. Amorim made plain he is keen to keep him on board.

"Modric is a player we want to keep for his experience," he said. "I know the board spoke with Modric and I spoke to him two times. If I need to, I will go and get the guy. He played really well and is a key point for us, especially in the beginning, to keep possession. I am not going to say he is going to play all the games but we really want to count with him next season."

A Reunion Already Pencilled In

There is a certain irony lurking in the pre-season calendar. Milan are scheduled to face Manchester United in a friendly in Poland on 15 August — meaning Amorim's return to the dugout could come directly against the club that dismissed him. Whether that fixture carries an edge or a sense of closure will depend largely on how United's own summer of transition unfolds.

Amorim also apologised to the assembled Italian press for not yet speaking their language, giving all of his answers in English. It was a small but telling moment — a manager already displaying the self-awareness that, by his own admission, came partly at Manchester United's expense.

Frequently asked

Why did Amorim apologise to Manchester United fans?
Amorim admitted he never publicly addressed United's supporters after being sacked in January 2025. Speaking at his AC Milan unveiling, he said he was sorry for not having the opportunity to say something to them at the time, and added that he was proud to have been their coach.
Where is Amorim managing now after leaving Man Utd?
Amorim has joined AC Milan, signing a three-year contract. He was officially unveiled as head coach on Wednesday alongside club owner Gerry Cardinale.
Will Amorim face Manchester United again?
Yes — AC Milan are scheduled to play Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in Poland on 15 August, meaning Amorim could come up against his former club very early in his new tenure.