Dortmund will continue their tour of China against Manchester City on Thursday.
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Despite appearing in just 33 matches for Real last season before being shelved in May with injury, the towering defender turned down Jose Mourhino and Manchester United advances after “thinking seriously” about his future. Mata has been known to play with a smile on his face and his attitude could be a helpful factor in keeping the No. 8.
“The reality is I was expecting a very hard match for my players”.
“Then, the market will be open until the 31st of August, and sometimes things happen that you are not expecting, and we have to react”, Mourinho said. He’s a talented player and I don’t promise places to anyone.
Juventus have rejected Manchester United’s first offer for Paul Pogba worth a total of £100mn with £13mn of that in performance-related add-ons. The former Chelsea FC coach is now vying for Raphael Varane’s services, and has made it clear bringing the Frenchman to Old Trafford is a must. But I think at the end of the day, now it is a new start for United. I am not going to try to make you naive and believe that we are not trying for one player. We have one space for a midfield player.
If you don’t feel you can do it, you go to America, China – or stay in the French League for one more season.
26 April 2011: Schalke 0 Manchester United 2 The first time United ever faced Schalke 04 was in one of the biggest fixtures in European club football – the Champions League semi-final, in 2011.
“When you have already played four games, you are fitter, you are better but no excuses”.
The Swedish hit man may have craved United’s No. 10, too, but that was likely a non-starter given Wayne Rooney’s pull at the club, although Ibrahimovic claims he always had his eye on the No. 9 jersey. My previous club had a great offer, we thought that was financially very much acceptable.
“I am really confident (executive vice-chairman Ed) Woodward and the owners can get the profile of the player I think the squad needs”.
Mata is important to the team in a similar way that Patrice Evra was, except that Mata has more years left at the top-level.
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Mourinho went on to explain how he saw events at Stamford Bridge, insisting there was nothing personal between he and Mata and it was the player who wanted to move on.
