Manchester United spent £16.7m to sack Ruben Amorim, according to the club's latest financial results.
The Portuguese was dismissed alongside his coaching staff in January 2026, but despite the outlay, the Red Devils' operating profit increased in the nine months to 31st March to £37.7m from a loss of £3.2m in the previous nine months.
It paints a more healthy financial picture despite the club still being burdened by $650m of debt from the Glazer family's ownership, and with UEFA Champions League football on the horizon, the picture may look healthier still in 12 months.
While the £16.7m spent on removing Amorim from post is no small outlay, it pales into insignificance when compared to the potential cost of missing out on UEFA Champions League football. United were sixth in the table at the time of Amorim's departure, and though the struggles of Chelsea and Newcastle helped significantly, the move to replace Amorim saw the Old Trafford outfit solidify their place in the top five and allowed the club to plan ahead.
A leap from 15th to third in the Premier League also brings about more prize money, which will be reflected in the next set of financial results, and should give the club more room to manoeuvre in the transfer market.
It was reported the club would miss out on around £100m in revenue having lost last year's Europa League final, but the club can look forward to a minimum of four UEFA Champions League home games, and it's not out of the question that that increases to six or seven, while their early eliminations from the domestic cups reduced their season to just 40 matches, further impacting matchday revenue.
United's chief executive officer Omar Berrada said: "Finishing third in the Premier League and securing qualification to next season's UEFA Champions League is testament to our men's team's improved form on the pitch. Michael Carrick has done an excellent job in the 17 games he has overseen and we are delighted that he will continue as head coach.
