United put off Perisic by price tag
UNITED did not sign Ivan Perisic in the transfer window last year because they did not believe he was worth Inter Milan’s £50m valuation.
Perisic, 29, was identified by Jose Mourinho as the ideal winger to sharpen United’s attack, and the club had a final offer of £40m rejected for the Croatia international.
The Reds were confident of concluding a deal for Perisic as they prepared for their July 17 friendly against Real Salt Lake in Utah, but the player flew on Inter’s pre-season tour of China the next day.
Club sources indicated last year Inter ‘just did not want to sell’ Perisic, but it is understood United refused to sanction additional funds for the Croatian since they did not believe he was a marketable enough player to merit a £50m transfer.
Perisic shone at this year’s World Cup, scoring in the semifinal and final.
Despite speculation that United could reignite their interest in Perisic, there is no concrete evidence they are planning to launch a belated bid for the Inter forward before tomorrow’s deadline.
Perisic earned an improved Inter contract on the back of United’s overtures and is tied to the San Siro until 2022.
The length of his deal, the post-Neymar market and Perisic’s World Cup campaign means his value has inflated to nearly the double the £50m Inter rated him at 12 months ago.
Mourinho feigned ignorance when he was asked about Perisic during his punditry stint for Russia Today at the World Cup.
“Perisic, he went from Croatia to Dortmund to Wolfsburg to Inter. I don’t know why he didn’t come to Manchester when I wanted him,” Mourinho said.
Perisic is currently being linked with Bayern Munich, who are also monitoring Anthony Martial’s situation at United. WITH just a day until the transfer window closes, things appear to be going from bad to worse for United.
Not only is Jose Mourinho displeased with Ed Woodward’s summer transfer market efforts, but the club’s star player is seemingly being offered out to top European rivals.
Agent Mino Raiola is said to have been up to his usual tricks with Paul UNITED have confirmed five Premier League games in October and November will be shown live on TV – including November’s derby at Old Trafford.
Five fixtures in August and September have already been chosen for live coverage, and Sky Pogba and is reportedly trying to engineer a move to Barcelona before the La Liga window closes at the end of the month.
But, after months of speculation around Pogba and Mourinho’s relationship, it is time the pair put on a united front and moved on.
The Reds boss has a clear track record with star names who aren’t giving him what he wants. It cost Henrikh Mkhitaryan his United career and it looks like it could be happening again with Anthony Martial. and BT Sport have released their TV picks for the autumn period.
On October 6, United’s home clash with Newcastle will be the Saturday evening game on BT (5.30pm kick-off).
Then, Jose Mourinho returns to his former club on Saturday, October 20 as United visit Chelsea for the lunchtime kick-off on Sky.
That clash is the first of three
But, while the latter appears to want to leave the club, there is still something to be salvaged between Pobga and Mourinho that is worth fighting for. But it will take compromise from both parties.
The France international admitted the pair clashed last season after Mourinho dropped him to the bench. The 25-year-old wants to be playing every game but his reaction won’t have pleased Mourinho.
The United boss favours the players who take his instructions and act on them without dissent – Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay are Mourinho favourites. While it isn’t a case of apportioning blame, it has reached a point where both parties need to agree to a truce and a new working relationship for the good of the team.
Pogba, for example, had numerous prime opportunities during his many interviews during the World Cup to end speculation and commit his future to United. He didn’t do it.
Likewise, Mourinho’s barely had consecutive early kick-offs as United host Everton on Saturday, October 27 (12.30pm, Sky) and travel to Bournemouth on Saturday, November 3 (12.30pm, BT).
A week later is the hotlyanticipated derby as United meet rivals City for the first league clash of the season (Sunday, November 11, 4.30pm, Sky). a word to say about Pogba’s impressive World Cup campaign, where he helped to lead France to victory. He has since appeared to overlook him for the vacant captaincy role and dug him, and a number of others, out for not returning from holiday sooner. It is a tense stand-off that has rumbled on in the background the whole summer – two egos seemingly ill at ease with each other. In every interview Pogba has given there have been undertones hinting at a fractured relationship with Mourinho. The United manager may need to change his tack with Pogba in order to get the best out of him - but it’s going to take a compromise from Pogba’s side too. He showed his maturity in Russia with his team talks and ability to lead the squad and that is the mentality he needs to bring back with him after his summer holiday. There are plenty of issues for Mourinho to iron out if United are to get any closer to winning the title, but sorting out his Pogba ‘problem’ is a top priority.