Ruben Amorim has ruled out a return to Portugal, which leaves Benfica looking harder at Marco Silva. Amorim’s representatives said he has not held meetings with Portuguese clubs about working conditions, structure, squad, salaries or any other matters, and the statement said he decided a long time ago to pursue his career abroad. That is the clearest line in the reports: Portugal is not the next step.

Why Benfica's search has shifted

Benfica are third in the Primeira Liga on 80 points from 34 matches, so this is not a casual vacancy. The reports described Silva as being linked with an agreement in principle at Benfica, and that is why his name has moved to the front of the conversation. Amorim’s situation is already being framed differently, not least because the statement from his camp shut the door on the Portuguese route.

There is also the wider picture around his spell at Manchester United. Amorim had a difficult 14-month tenure there before being dismissed in January, and his representatives were at pains to separate his future from any Portugal comeback talk. He also previously managed Sporting CP, which keeps his ties to the Portuguese game obvious, but the latest messages say those ties will not lead to a return.

Why Silva is still in the frame

Silva’s own words leave room for movement. Speaking about the Premier League, he said: "The Premier League is a league that, I won't hide, fulfils me – It's a league where I believe all coaches have that goal and that little bug of wanting to try it one day". He also said: "But I've also never closed any doors to anything, I've never said that I wouldn't be in league A, B, C or D in the future. Regardless of controlling all the decisions I might make regarding it, the future is open".

That is why the Benfica story now feels like a Silva story more than an Amorim one. Silva has been at Fulham since 2021, and his comments do not read like a manager trying to slam the door on a bigger move. They read like someone content where he is, while keeping the option open if the right job comes along.

Benfica may still have to wait for the formal next step, but the direction of travel is clear enough. Amorim has ruled Portugal out. Silva is the one with the open door and the reported agreement in principle.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →