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Manchester United trying to sign Cristiano Ronaldo would be 'mission impossible', claims Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has insisted Manchester United would be wasting their time trying to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.
Ronaldo’s future at Real has been questioned amid claims the Portugal forward has been left angered by allegations of tax fraud in Spain and United have been linked with a move.
But Mourinho has claimed any attempts to try to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford eight years after he left in an £80 million deal would constitute “mission impossible” and that he would be doing United a disservice by asking the club’s hierarchy to pursue a deal.
“We have never thought about it because he is such an important player for his club, of great economic power, where we have not been able to find a reason that could have made us think that Ronaldo could leave,” the United manager. “I am not a defender of my club once you waste time on players who are mission impossible.”
United had been in talks to sign Alvaro Morata, Ronaldo’s team-mate at Real, but senior sources at the club claimed negotiations for the Spain striker ended once they bought Romelu Lukaku for £90 million from Everton instead.
But Mourinho gave the impression on Sunday in the wake of United’s 5-2 victory over LA Galaxy that they still retained an interest in Morata, despite Real’s £79 million valuation proving prohibitive.
“It is a question for Florentino [Perez, the Real president],” Mourinho said. “Clubs put price tags on players, not the one who wants to buy. He belongs to Madrid. Madrid has decided and we have not come to an agreement. It is simple. It is a shame.
“It is a player who made it to the first team with me. We have a special liking for [him], he is someone special. I enjoyed watching his evolution at Juventus and Madrid. It is like that. I don’t think he can end with us.”