After Mourinho’s sacking in December 2015, Willian continued to be the only Chelsea player about whom anything positive could be said.
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Manchester United are being linked with Juventus central defender Leonardo Bonucci, but any move for the 29-year-old will have to be put on hold following a serious illness to the Italy international’s two-year-old son.
“We have 38 matches in the Premier League, we have the possibility of 15 matches in the Europa League, plus domestic cups, we are going to play 60 matches”.
“They need to play. You can see he wants to be a really important player for us”, the England global explained to the Daily Mail.
United have already wrapped up deals for centre-half Eric Bailly from Villarreal, winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who joined on a free after seeing out his contract at Paris Saint-Germain.
“Does it make sense in the way the player can give you that investment back?”
That remains unlikely, although the delay in United signing Pogba could yet lead Mourinho to reignite his interest in Matuidi after identifying him as a Plan B target.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is turning his attentions to signing a central defensive leader in the style of Nemanja Vidic, sources have told ESPN FC.
“I can see him staying at Manchester United and try to achieve their goals under a new coach”.
Wayne Rooney (two), Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata also found the net for United, but new boss Jose Mourinho will be disappointed with the defending for the goals from Sinan Gumus and Bruma that left his side trailing 2-1 at the break.
Quoted in Tuttosport, he said: “It’s complete madness when measured against real life, but we live in a world in which everything that happens is geared towards moving money around”. For the last three seasons, United have dipped in form – relying on De Gea on many occasions to keep them in matches.
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“There’s a lot of optimism, as that is only our second pre-season game as a full squad – it was the first game for some players”.
