RUBEN AMORIM has offered to pay for 30 of his Manchester United staff to take their families to the Europa League final.
The move is an attempt to boost morale following a difficult six months since he arrived at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s coaches, physios and support team were told the club would not be paying for their loved ones to attend next Wednesday’s showpiece with Tottenham in Bilbao.
But the Red Devils boss has taken matters into his own hands as a reward for their contributions and efforts during his time at the club.
Amorim wants to make sure everyone is able to take up to two family members or friends.
United’s hierarchy have decided only TWO tickets are available per player and that guests’ travel to and from Spain would not be covered by the club.
Staff are already fearing the final, with 150-200 facing the chop as part of the current redundancy process — after 250 were let go last summer.
But defeat to Spurs would cost United at least £100million in revenue from failure to qualify for the Champions League and leave them without any European football.
And staff reeling from the savage cuts under new part-owners Ineos are dreading even more bad news if United are beaten in Bilbao.
A United source told SunSport: “People say the environment is horrible to work in. Everyone is dispirited and looking over their shoulder.
“There’s no enthusiasm. I can’t imagine what it would be like if they don’t beat Spurs.”
Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe told fans that he and majority owners Joel and Avram Glazer had no choice but to cut jobs and raise ticket prices.
Ratcliffe claimed United were in danger of running out of money by the end of 2025 and breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules if they did not act, having run up losses of £300m in three years.
United announced the latest round of redundancies in February, seeing it as essential regardless of how the season panned out.
Those at risk in most departments have been informed and a consultation process is underway.
But those on the football performance side of the business — including coaching, backroom and scouting staff — will have to wait until the season is over to learn their fate.
That would partly explain the wide number range for the proposed cuts.
There is doubt over the wisdom of more reductions.
After 2023-24, United had 1,140 employees — more than other traditional Big Six clubs, with Liverpool second on 1,011.
Last year’s redundancies put United at 890 and the current process may leave them with just 700 staff.
On 2024 figures, only Manchester City had fewer than that, with 611 — but that does not take into account how much of their business is taken on by City Football Group, which owns multiple clubs worldwide.
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