United have reportedly had an $86 million offer ($113 million, 102 million euros) turned down by the Italian champions as they try to lure France global Pogba back to Old Trafford four years after allowing him to leave on a free transfer.
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Whether United genuinely are looking at other players or Mourinho is just trying to take a bit of attention away from the Pogba deal, his revelation that they are keeping an eye on several central midfielders is sure to create a fresh wave of speculation in the coming days.
Four years on from departing Old Trafford without making a first-team start, the 23-year-old is being trailed by his former club having flourished at Juventus.
Mourinho refused to discuss Pogba specifically but praised vice-chairman Ed Woodward’s work in the window so far. “The only thing I can say is that my board, my directors, did a fantastic job to do 75% of the job I asked them to do”.
“I don’t confirm and I don’t deny (that we have agreed to sign Pogba)”, Mourinho said in Shanghai.
“We have three faces to fill that profile and I am really confident that Mr Woodward and the owners will bring me that profile of player that I think the squad needs to have a good balance”.
Again, this is just the money they make off their uniform, before they sell any ads, before they sell a single ticket or beer, and before they accept one pound from the Premier League’s television revenue.
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“I am quite surprised with so many question marks around this guy”, Mourinho told The Telegraph ahead of Manchester United’s friendly with Borussia Dortmund.
