Jose: I’d have quit other jobs
had identified months ago. And as he enters the third year of his reign, he feels Woodward has undermined his chances of challenging Manchester City for the title this season by refusing to buy a new centre-back.
A source said Mourinho had privately confided that “any other job at any other club and I would have quit”, which shows the depth of the 55-year-old’s anger.
Mourinho is determined to succeed at United and was handed a vote of confidence by Woodward last January when he signed a new two-year contract extension, amid heightened speculation over his future.
But Woodward’s reluctance to pay the big money to bring Leicester’s Harry Maguire and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld to United, despite Mourinho’s insistence the defence needed strengthening, has caused major issues.
The pair’s relationship has cooled over the poor summer transfer window, which saw the Reds sign just three players, despite the United boss insisting they needed more.
Brazil star Fred arrived for £52million in June, but the only other new faces were £19m teenage full-back Diogo Dalot from Porto and back-up keeper Lee Grant, signed from Stoke for £1.5m.
Mourinho, however, had also wanted Inter Milan winger and Croatia World Cup star Ivan Perisic.
Record £89m signing Paul Pogba still wants out of United, with his agent Mino Raiola trying to secure a move to Barcelona.
The France midfielder is disillusioned under Mourinho, but United are refusing to sell.