Manchester United's latest financial results have exposed the true cost of their recent managerial upheaval, confirming that dismissing Ruben Amorim and his backroom staff earlier this year set the club back £8.2 million.

The figure appears as an exceptional item in United's end-of-year accounts, covering the severance packages issued to the Portuguese coach and his assistants following his departure in January after just 14 months in the dugout.

How Amorim's Milan move halved the bill

The initial compensation liability was considerably steeper — reportedly as high as £16.7 million — but Amorim's appointment at AC Milan this summer is understood to have triggered a mitigation clause in his original contract, cutting the final payout to roughly half that amount.

Michael Carrick stepped into the role on an interim basis following Amorim's exit, and a strong end to the season — most notably guiding the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League — earned him the permanent post over the summer.

A costly start for Carrick

If Carrick is operating on a salary comparable to his predecessor, United are effectively committing approximately £1.17 million per match under their new permanent head coach — a figure that will focus minds in the boardroom given the team's early-season struggles.

Since the 2026/27 campaign began last month, Carrick has overseen seven competitive fixtures, winning only two. The opening day brought a chastening 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Hull City before United rallied with a 5-2 home victory over Ipswich Town at Old Trafford.

A 2-2 draw with Everton in early September halted that momentum, and despite a routine 4-0 UEFA Champions League win over Azeri side Sabah FK, a 1-0 Manchester derby defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford followed shortly after. United then collapsed in the Carabao Cup, surrendering a lead to lose 3-2 against Brighton & Hove Albion before salvaging a 1-1 draw at Fulham at Craven Cottage in their most recent outing.

With just one Premier League win from five matches and already eliminated from domestic cup competition, the heat is rising on Carrick. United's hierarchy will be hoping their faith — and their considerable financial outlay — begins to deliver tangible results before any further expensive rethink becomes necessary.