Ex-Man Utd stars' WhatsApp messages to Darren Fletcher revealed after Ruben Amorim sacked

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Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed that the WhatsApp group featuring ex-Reds legends is lively with messages of congratulations and good luck to Darren Fletcher following news of Ruben Amorim's dismissal. His former teammate is set to step into the caretaker role, with his debut match against Burnley approaching this week.

Amorim presided over United's most dismal Premier League campaign in the club's top-flight history, whilst his team suffered defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final. The Portuguese manager had witnessed an improvement in results this term, accumulating 31 points from 20 fixtures.

Nevertheless, consecutive stalemates against relegation-threatened Wolves and Leeds United prompted Amorim to deliver a shocking statement during his final media appearance as United chief.

The Portuguese tactician launched a scathing attack on United's boardroom figures, with his fractured relationship with Jason Wilcox becoming public knowledge.

On his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former United centre-back revealed: "I'm really excited to see him, I mean the Man United [ex-players] WhatsApp group is popping off as you can imagine with congratulations and good luck messages to Fletch.

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"I think he'll be ejecting himself [from the group], or won't be answering. Let me just check and see if he's answered already because he ain't been as active since he's been the Under-18s manager.

"Let me just see. Fletch, where are you? Nope. You've got Youngy, Edwin van der Sar, Anders Lindergaard and myself all wishing him good luck. I think [the good luck messages] will be coming in more and more over the next couple of minutes.

"I wish him well. Darren Fletcher, he's had some big, big moments in his career and he's also had some turmoil in his life with his health.

"He [has] a wonderful family, he's the right kind of person that you'd want to get a chance and I just hope he goes in there and does himself justice because this is a wonderful opportunity that anyone on this planet - especially someone who's connected to the club - would give their right arm for, to have this opportunity. I'm sure he'll give it all he's got.

"One thing we will do is he'll take counsel. He'll lean on people. I'm sure one of his first phone calls will be Sir Alex Ferguson - followed by myself hahaha. But he will ask those questions. He's got humility.

"If I was a betting man, I'd say he'll do a good enough job. I want him to make it difficult for the hierarchy to make a decision on the next manager - on the next coach. Because that's obviously the question everyone's asking."

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Amorim departs United having secured merely 24 victories from 63 matches, marking the poorest record of any manager since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down from the role.

The choice to part ways with Amorim was made by United's senior management, which includes Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada. A United statement read: "Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United . Ruben was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to a UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May.

"With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club's leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change. This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.