This is a stretch. A real stretch.
Jorge Mendes recommending three of his best young players to Manchester United? And with Louis van Gaal still in charge? C’mon…!
It broke last week that United had scouts in the stands to see Portuguese trio Renato Sanches, Bernardo Silva and Andre Gomes in action against Belgium. All three have been associated with United this season. Indeed, Benfica midfielder Sanches is said to have already agreed terms.
But all three are also represented by super agent Mendes and his Gestifute firm. And the idea that he’d willingly allow three of the best young players he has on his books anywhere near a team managed by Van Gaal just doesn’t wash.
After seeing two of his highest profile clients, Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao, mishandled last season, Mendes and Van Gaal are barely on speaking terms. The prospect that Sanches, Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes or Bernardo Silva, AS Monaco’s wing-back, will pop up at Old Trafford next season with Van Gaal and his clipboard still in the dugout, is simply inconceivable.
Which is why this snippet is just another sign that Van Gaal is keeping the seat warm for Jose Mourinho. At the moment, there’s millions in the balance. Sack Van Gaal now and United must pay the Dutchman full whack, including his top four bonus. Wait until the end of the season and if they miss out on Champions League qualification, United avoid a dent in their revenue by dumping LVG sans his top four sling. And if they make it? The Euro money due will cover what he’s owed and everyone parts on good terms.
Mourinho has the job. There’s been little flyers regarding Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham and even Van Gaal staying on for another season. But with 15 per cent pay cuts across almost all departments at United, Ed Woodward, the club’s virtual chief exec, is keeping a close watch on the pennies. Van Gaal will leave, but Woodward and the Glazer family are determined to avoid paying any unnecessary compensation.
Wayne Rooney’s manager next season will be Mourinho. And he shouldn’t be concerned. Rooney is the No10 Mourinho desperately sought for two-and-a-half years at Chelsea.
It’s emerged with the squad in such a state of flux, Rooney has sought assurances about where he stands in United’s future planning. But he needn’t worry.
At the Bridge, Pedro, Eden Hazard, Willian, Kevin de Bruyne, Juan Cuadrado, Andre Schurrle, Oscar… they were all given a chance at No10 by Mourinho, but just couldn’t quite pull it off. Even Hazard, in the end, struggled with expectations.
Rooney was what Mourinho was searching for. A player who can pick a pass. Finish as well as any in the game. Tackle back. Follow instructions. Be selfless. Everything he couldn’t find while in charge at Chelsea.
Just as United is the club the Special One has coveted. Rooney is the player Mourinho has long wanted to work with. Rooney will turn 31 this year, but when everything is made official, he will be the first to get a call from Mourinho about preseason.
There’s an iconic image of Sir Alex Ferguson, 30 years ago, inside the Kenilworth Road dugout with his arm around the shoulders of a just substituted Bryan Robson.
Like Mourinho and Rooney, Fergie and Robson came together with the United captain at 30 years of age. Sir Alex played Robson anywhere and everywhere. In midfield. In attack. At sweeper. Robson was the rock from which Ferguson built the modern day Manchester United.
Like Rooney and China, there was also a danger of United losing Robson to a suddenly big-spending foreign league. When Bernard Tapie and Olympique Marseille came calling, there was a real threat of the Geordie being tempted away. But Ferguson convinced Robson to stay, promising that he would have his league title glory with United.
Rooney needn’t worry. It may come late in his career, but Mourinho will bring the best out of United’s No10. A deeper role. Greater involvement. And rather than taking the sting out of his game, which has become so apparent under Van Gaal, Mourinho will demand the opposite. He’ll send out Rooney breathing fire. That edge rediscovered under David Moyes, and seen only fleetingly over the past two seasons, will not just be encouraged, but demanded by Mourinho.
Roo and Mou? They’re made for each other. And what each has been seeking for the past two years.
Contributed by Chris Beattie of TribalFootball.com