Mourinho angers Man United chiefs with spending ‘digs’

Matt Stead

Jose Mourinho has angered ‘senior’ Manchester United officials with his constant sniping over the club’s spending.

The Daily Mail report that Mourinho ‘is treading a fine line’ with regards to his complaints over a perceived lack of financial backing.

Three Premier League clubs spent more than United’s £145.75m in the summer, but only Manchester City (£138.1m) were higher than the Red Devils (£137.75m) in terms of net spend.

With City opening a 15-point gap at the top of the Premier League table after just 22 games, Mourinho has pointed the finger of blame at the club’s transfer business.

The Portuguese complained on Boxing Day that “Man City buy full backs for the price of a striker”, while once again highlighting the supposed difference in spending limits imposed on the two clubs.

But such complaints have been ‘interpreted as a less-than-subtle attempt to pressure them into more spending’ by the club’s hierarchy, who do not miss a bloody beat at all.

Ian Ladyman adds that United are ‘happy with Mourinho’s progress’, and do have a degree of ‘sympathy’ over his complaints at the standard of squad Louis van Gaal left him.

They also believe Mourinho’s signings have been ‘well thought out’, and Ed Woodward is ‘preparing to bankroll’ the manager further with two marquee summer signings.

But ‘further comments about finances’ are only going to ‘lead him closer to direct confrontation with his employers,’ writes Ladyman.

It is added that while United accepted Mourinho’s controversial nature when appointing him manager in summer 2016, they have drawn a line in terms of criticising the boardroom.

‘United knew Mourinho would be vocal and controversial in the media when they hired him. Indeed, it was one of the reasons the club steered clear of him when replacing Sir Alex Ferguson,’ Ladyman writes.

‘And while United are prepared to let the Portuguese set his own agenda when it comes to relations with match officials, opposition managers and even former United players, they will not appreciate thinly-disguised efforts to force their hand on spending.’

Prediction for 2018: Mourinho won’t last the year.