Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho has been very transparent all summer long about his shopping list. He’s wanted four players, but got only three. Mourinho coveted a defender, striker and holding midfielder, and so far those needs were filled with Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic. The Portugese also covets an attacking player/winger, but has conceded defeat in the pursuit of Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic and Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale.
Yesterday, reports in France, which were then picked up in England, claimed that Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier had agreed on a multi-year deal to join United, but as of Friday, that report is apparently “FAKE NEWS!”
During his news conference ahead of the Premier League season opener on Friday, Jose Mourinho said that he will not “cry” or “moan” if he does not end up obtaining that fourth and final player between now and August 31.
“We have 25 percent left which means one of four — we got a central defender that can play many other positions which is very important. Victor [Lindelof] can play right-back, centre midfield,” he said.
“We have a central midfielder and a striker, so obviously another player would be one coming from the sides, but we have players and if we cannot strengthen then we have people we trust.”
“My initial analysis from January and progressing through other months I was thinking of four players but I am not a difficult person to work with, even if looks different or you want to make it look so.”
You can watch the video of the entire press conference over at this link. Jose Mourinho said he understands and accepts the extreme price inflation in the current transfer market and how inhibiting that is. He also seems confident in going to war with what he has this Premier League season.
“I understand the reality of the market, of the numbers and that my club by doing 75 percent of what I initially asked did very well. I don’t think I am in a position of moaning, crying, contesting or to say I am not happy with it,” the Portugese continued.
“I am happy with the effort the club did and that the club managed to do 75 percent of the work before the Premier League starts and until Aug. 31. If the remaining 25 percent don’t arrive I will not moan, just go with everything I have to try to win every match we play.”
There’s still almost three weeks left before the window closes- a lot can happen between now and then.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.
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