Jump directly to the content
Mour bang for your buck

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho believes he saved the club over £100million on transfers by doing his business early

JOSE MOURINHO believes he saved Manchester United over £100MILLION on transfers by doing his business before early.

The Special One splurged £146m on Romelu Lukaku (£75m), Nemanja Matic (£40m) and Victor Lindelof (£31m) this summer.

 Jose Mourinho believes he saved Manchester United over £100m in transfers this summer
8
Jose Mourinho believes he saved Manchester United over £100m in transfers this summerCredit: The Times - Marc Aspland
 Jose Mourinho reckons Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic would have cost £105m MORE had Manchester United not signed them early
8
Jose Mourinho reckons Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic would have cost £105m MORE had Manchester United not signed them earlyCredit: Reuters

Each signing was completed before Neymar's record-shattering £198m Paris Saint-Germain switch from Barcelona on August 4.

But Mourinho reckons Lukaku would have cost DOUBLE what United paid for him, and Matic another £30m had they waited around.

The Old Trafford boss, who admits he is NOT thinking of extending his deal, told The Times: "I think we were very clever.

"We thought that something could happen that could change the market forever.

"Normally the last part of the market is less expensive, but this season, after Neymar [signed for PSG], everything changed — and changed for the worse in terms of prices.

"I think Lukaku on August 31 would have been £150m. Matic would have been £60m or £70m. Neymar changed everything.

 Jose Mourinho reckons Neymar's £198m Paris Saint-Germain move inflated the market
8
Jose Mourinho reckons Neymar's £198m Paris Saint-Germain move inflated the marketCredit: AFP or licensors
 Manchester United signed Romelu Lukaku for £75m from Everton this summer
8
Manchester United signed Romelu Lukaku for £75m from Everton this summerCredit: Rex Features
 Jose Mourinho says Nemanja Matic would have cost £70m after Neymar's PSG move
8
Jose Mourinho says Nemanja Matic would have cost £70m after Neymar's PSG moveCredit: Rex Features

"If the biggest transfer in history had still been Pogba, I think Philippe Coutinho [the Liverpool playmaker] would now be in Barcelona at £101m."

Barca splashed out £138m to bring in Borussia Dortmund's Ousmane Dembele as Neymar's replacement.

After Neymar, everything changed - and changed for the worse.

Jose Mourinho

The France winger cost Dortmund just £14m from Rennes last May but saw his price-tag skyrocket.

Mourinho added: "People look to the £200m figure now. Now the players of £20m became £40m, the players of £40m became £60m and everything changed.

"Lukaku and Matic, now, would have cost us £200m in total.

 Jose Mourinho claims the market has changed 'for the worse' following Neymar's PSG transfer
8
Jose Mourinho claims the market has changed 'for the worse' following Neymar's PSG transferCredit: The Times - Marc Aspland
 Barcelona splashed out £138m on Ousmane Dembele this summer
8
Barcelona splashed out £138m on Ousmane Dembele this summerCredit: EPA
 Barcelona failed in a number of bids to land Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool
8
Barcelona failed in a number of bids to land Philippe Coutinho from LiverpoolCredit: PA:Press Association

"But because we did it in the first part of the summer, it was much less.

"I think we did well in financial terms and well in preparation terms, getting them before the season started. That is not crucial but it is important."

 

Topics