Mourinho stays tight-lipped on Pogba deal

AFP, SHANGHAI (CHINA): Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admitted on Thursday the club needs one more signing before the season starts but would not confirm it would be record target Paul Pogba.
Media reports in the UK Wednesday suggested United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had pulled out of the club's pre-season tour to China so he could meet and agree personal terms with Pogba's agent Mino Raiola.
Mourinho was asked directly at a news conference in Shanghai whether he could confirm the reports.
"I don't confirm and I don't deny. I cannot tell you," Mourinho said on the eve of the International Champions Cup match against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai Friday.
"I don't think it's correct to speak about players of other clubs, and he's a Juventus player and not a Manchester United player.
"The only thing I can tell you is that my board, my directors they did fantastic work to do 75 percent of the job I asked them to do," said Mourinho.
"I asked them for four players. To be more accurate I asked them for four or five players I need.
"I gave them a few options and they did for me 75 percent of the job with (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, (Henrikh) Mikitharyan and (Eric) Bailly and they have just 25 percent to do until the 31st of August.
"We are calm. We have three faces to fill the profile. I am confident Mr Woodward will get the player we need to get a good balance."
Mourinho has reportedly made French international Pogba his top transfer target as he bids to make a big impact in his first season at Old Trafford but it could cost the club a record-breaking £100 million ($130 million, 119 million euros) to land the midfielder.
United are believed to have had an opening bid of £86 million rejected by Juventus and an improved offer could shatter the previous world record fee of £85 million paid by Real Madrid for Gareth Bale in 2013.
Mourinho has already spent more than £50 million on defender Bailly from Villarreal and midfielder Mkhitaryan from Friday's opponents Dortmund, as well as recruiting Ibrahimovic who left PSG on a free transfer.
Pogba, 23, had a spell at United but was allowed to leave for Juventus on a 2012 free transfer while still a teenager after just a handful of appearances under then manager Alex Ferguson, who slammed him for showing no respect to the club.
Pogba has since emerged as one of the top midfielders in Europe, playing an integral part in the France side that reached the Euro 2016 final and helping Juventus win four successive Serie A titles.
Manchester United round off their China tour against fierce rivals Manchester City in Beijing on Monday.
Meanwhile, another report from London adds: Man United have stepped up their world record chase for Paul Pogba by reportedly thrashing out a huge financial package with his agent while the Juventus midfielder eagerly awaits developments in sun-kissed Miami.
A series of social media posts by the star show Pogba soaking up the sunshine and working out in Miami, where he has also been pictured playing basketball while wearing a jersey of the recently crowned NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
Determined to restore United to their former glory as he tries to erase the stain of his sacking by Chelsea last season, Mourinho has already spent more than £50 million on defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal and midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, as well as recruiting former Paris Saint Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer.
But it is Mourinho’s expensive courtship of Pogba which has developed into the most high-profile transfer saga of the close-season.
While his capture would be a major coup, it would also be a source of a few rueful looks at Old Trafford after the 23-year-old was allowed to leave for Juventus on a free transfer just four years ago.
The Turin giants persuaded Pogba to turn his back on United in 2012 after he made just a handful of appearances in England and fell out with then manager Alex Ferguson, who slammed him for showing no respect to the club.
Pogba has since emerged as one of the top midfielders in Europe, playing an integral part in the France side that reached the Euro 2016 final and helping Juventus win four successive Serie A titles.
Juventus won’t make the same mistake as United and have made it clear they want at least £100 million, plus £8 million in add-ons for Pogba.
Complicating matters for United and increasing their desire to tie up the transfer quickly is a potential bid from Real Madrid, whose French manager Zinedine Zidane is a confirmed admirer of Pogba.
But Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri insisted Pogba had a difficult decision to make because United can’t match his club’s domestic dominance at present and also don’t have Champions League action to offer.
“Anyone who has the opportunity to leave Juventus has to consider things very carefully, because right now Juve are among the top four European clubs,” Allegri was quoted as saying by the Italian media.
“This is not a selling club that just lets its players go. Pogba belongs to Juve and at the end of the day he too will want to win another Scudetto and hopefully the Champions League.”

Mourinho stays tight-lipped on Pogba deal

AFP, SHANGHAI (CHINA): Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admitted on Thursday the club needs one more signing before the season starts but would not confirm it would be record target Paul Pogba. Media reports in the UK Wednesday suggested United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had pulled out of the clubs pre-season tour to China so he could meet and agree personal terms with Pogbas agent Mino Raiola. Mourinho was asked directly at a news conference in Shanghai whether he could confirm the reports. I dont confirm and I dont deny. I cannot tell you, Mourinho said on the eve of the International Champions Cup match against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai Friday. I dont think its correct to speak about players of other clubs, and hes a Juventus player and not a Manchester United player. The only thing I can tell you is that my board, my directors they did fantastic work to do 75 percent of the job I asked them to do, said Mourinho. I asked them for four players. To be more accurate I asked them for four or five players I need. I gave them a few options and they did for me 75 percent of the job with (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, (Henrikh) Mikitharyan and (Eric) Bailly and they have just 25 percent to do until the 31st of August. We are calm. We have three faces to fill the profile. I am confident Mr Woodward will get the player we need to get a good balance. Mourinho has reportedly made French international Pogba his top transfer target as he bids to make a big impact in his first season at Old Trafford but it could cost the club a record-breaking 100 million ($130 million, 119 million euros) to land the midfielder. United are believed to have had an opening bid of 86 million rejected by Juventus and an improved offer could shatter the previous world record fee of 85 million paid by Real Madrid for Gareth Bale in 2013. Mourinho has already spent more than 50 million on defender Bailly from Villarreal and midfielder Mkhitaryan from Fridays opponents Dortmund, as well as recruiting Ibrahimovic who left PSG on a free transfer. Pogba, 23, had a spell at United but was allowed to leave for Juventus on a 2012 free transfer while still a teenager after just a handful of appearances under then manager Alex Ferguson, who slammed him for showing no respect to the club. Pogba has since emerged as one of the top midfielders in Europe, playing an integral part in the France side that reached the Euro 2016 final and helping Juventus win four successive Serie A titles. Manchester United round off their China tour against fierce rivals Manchester City in Beijing on Monday. Meanwhile, another report from London adds: Man United have stepped up their world record chase for Paul Pogba by reportedly thrashing out a huge financial package with his agent while the Juventus midfielder eagerly awaits developments in sun-kissed Miami. A series of social media posts by the star show Pogba soaking up the sunshine and working out in Miami, where he has also been pictured playing basketball while wearing a jersey of the recently crowned NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Determined to restore United to their former glory as he tries to erase the stain of his sacking by Chelsea last season, Mourinho has already spent more than 50 million on defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal and midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, as well as recruiting former Paris Saint Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer. But it is Mourinhos expensive courtship of Pogba which has developed into the most high-profile transfer saga of the close-season. While his capture would be a major coup, it would also be a source of a few rueful looks at Old Trafford after the 23-year-old was allowed to leave for Juventus on a free transfer just four years ago. The Turin giants persuaded Pogba to turn his back on United in 2012 after he made just a handful of appearances in England and fell out with then manager Alex Ferguson, who slammed him for showing no respect to the club. Pogba has since emerged as one of the top midfielders in Europe, playing an integral part in the France side that reached the Euro 2016 final and helping Juventus win four successive Serie A titles. Juventus wont make the same mistake as United and have made it clear they want at least 100 million, plus 8 million in add-ons for Pogba. Complicating matters for United and increasing their desire to tie up the transfer quickly is a potential bid from Real Madrid, whose French manager Zinedine Zidane is a confirmed admirer of Pogba. But Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri insisted Pogba had a difficult decision to make because United cant match his clubs domestic dominance at present and also dont have Champions League action to offer. Anyone who has the opportunity to leave Juventus has to consider things very carefully, because right now Juve are among the top four European clubs, Allegri was quoted as saying by the Italian media. This is not a selling club that just lets its players go. Pogba belongs to Juve and at the end of the day he too will want to win another Scudetto and hopefully the Champions League.