Mourinho Hits Out At Wenger & Klopp As United Boss Drops Huge Pogba Deal Hint

Jose Mourinho has hit out at Arsene Wenger and Jurgen Klopp while also dropping a huge hint that Manchester United are close to signing Paul Pogba, according to the Mirror.

United are widely reported to be closing in on a world record deal to sign the Juventus midfielder and Mourinho fuelled the speculation even further after dropping a huge hint that the deal is close this afternoon.

The Portuguese coach has been speaking to the media ahead of United’s Community Shield clash with Leicester City this weekend and when asked if he expects Pogba to sign for United soon, Mourinho is quoted as saying by the Mirror:

“I am very pragmatic on this. All that matters is what happens in my house and not in my neighbours’ house. Paul Pogba is a Juve player until he isn’t, officially, so we stay like this.

“The market closes on Aug 31 but I think my club is trying to do everything to close our market before the 14. Normally, next week, we will have our squad closed.

“We have 22 and we are going to have 23. You are right, I don’t like to speak about other clubs or players from other clubs. Other managers like to do that, they like to speak about my club and my players.”

So it looks like the Pogba saga should be concluded over the coming days but Mourinho has also taken the opportunity to hit back at two of his rivals for their comments regarding United’s proposed deal.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp took a swipe at United’s decision to spend such an obscene amount on one player by insisting that he would much rather build a team rather than splash out huge fees on individuals.

The German coach is quoted as saying by the Express last week:

“If you bring one player in for £100m and he gets injured, then it all goes through the chimney. The day that this is football, I’m not in a job any more, because the game is about playing together.

“Other clubs can go out and spend more money and collect top players. I want to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I could spend that money.

“If I spend money, it is because I am trying to build a team, a real team.”

Klopp isn’t the only manager to have criticised United’s deal as when asked for his thoughts on the £100m transfer, Arsene Wenger described it as ‘completely crazy’ when compered to ‘normal life’. The Arsenal boss is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying:

‘It is completely crazy if you cannot afford to pay it. If you can afford to pay it you can justify it.

‘It is completely crazy if you compare it to normal life. That is for sure. But we live in a world where every activity that is worldwide makes a lot of money.’

In fairness to the Arsenal manager, he does say it’s crazy unless you can afford to pay it, which United clearly can, but that hasn’t stopped Mourinho from taking aim at the Frenchman and Klopp at his press conference today.

The United boss said the following, while also dropping another hint that Pogba [a very good midfielder] is due to arrive:

“I only speak about us. I heard already two of my colleagues from other clubs speaking about us. I do not like that. It is not ethical.’ Mourinho is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

“There are things that when I do are not ethical and when others do it everything is normal, nobody says that. I do not speak about the others. They can do what they want. Our market was good.

“We made decisions, decide to bring four players not 10, that are Manchester United level. Four that we think can really improve the squad and not just be one more. This is the profile of our market.

“A young defender that needs time to be a top one but who has top potential. A creative player that we know the quality, a super striker, and we are going to get a very good midfielder. We try for balance. I am happy with my squad. I am happy with the effort of the club. The others it is their problem.”

It’s all hotting up between the top managers and the season hasn’t even started yet! No surprises that Mourinho is at the centre of it all, especially as it involves Wenger as the pair have a history of clashes over the last decade.

No doubt this is just the first installment of the new season and we should expect plenty more battles between the likes of Mourinho, Wenger, Klopp and even Guardiola throughout the 2016/17 campaign. I can’t wait….