Happy Jose Manchester-bound
JOSE MOURINHO will replace Louis van Gaal as manager of Manchester United, a friend confirmed yesterday.
Inter Milan director Bedy Moratti, sister of the Italian club’s former president Massimo Moratti, divulged the news after having lunch with Mourinho and her family in the city.
Asked afterwards if the 53-year-old Portuguese coach will return to Inter, she replied: ‘No, he’s happy now, he’s going to Manchester.
‘Of course, he’s always fantastic and we missed him as a person here.’
Mourinho has spent several days in Italy and watched Inter’s game against Sampdoria last night.
On Friday, he used an interview with La Stampa to declare that he is ready to return to work, two months after being sacked by Chelsea.
Mourinho said: ‘ Right now I have respect for every coach and every club. I’m not looking for a club, it’s the clubs who are looking for me.’
Cup exits at the hands of either Shrewsbury tomorrow or Midtjylland – the Danes holding a 2-1 first-leg advantage in the Europa League – on Thursday could force executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to axe Van Gaal.
The players are understood to be unsettled and one dressing-room source commented: ‘The group are just taking one game at a time but wondering what is next.’