‘Ronaldo will stay at Madrid’

numbers and Manchester City spent more money than us, Chelsea spent more money than us, I think even Everton spent more money than us. I don’t think that’s the problem.

“Expensive or cheap? Honestly, I think it was fair. I cannot say that it was expensive because it wasn’t. I cannot say it was cheap because if you add all the values of his contract, it’s not cheap. But it is a very good deal for us and the player has a fantastic contract. It’s a contract according to his qualities as a player and according to the situation – no transfer fee.

“How much would Sanchez cost in a normal transfer, club-to-club, as a player with two or three years left on his contract? We look to the numbers now and I would say roughly between £100m and £150m. So you put things in perspective: you go to the numbers that the club didn’t pay on the transfer, you go to the numbers that the club pay in salaries, which are obviously higher than others. You get a calculator and you arrive into different conclusions.

“Alexis could have gone anywhere. He had lots of choices.”

United officials were unaware of reports from Spain that Sanchez was missing when drugs testers turned up at Arsenal’s training ground on Monday – because he was in Manchester completing his move.

United sources say it is a matter for the Gunners to have informed the anti-doping unit of the whereabouts of their players because, as of Monday morning, Sanchez was still technically their player.

Mourinho has dismissed reports in Spain linking Cristiano Ronaldo, above, with a return to Old Trafford.

“Cristiano is the kind of player every manager and club want but only one manager and one club can have him and he stays with Zidane and Real Madrid, that’s my feeling,” he said.

Mourinho has signed a one-year extension to his contract, with the option for a further season.

“I am delighted the owners feel that I am the right manager,” he said.