Mourinho, Woodward don’t agree with each other

By Kris Voakes

Jose Mourinho has let it be known this summer that he knows who he can and cannot depend on. Above all, he has left us in no doubt that he and Ed Woodward are on different wavelengths when it comes to the transfer market.

Mourinho has never been one to keep all of his frustrations in but since arriving at Old Trafford two years ago he has never gone on such a concerted offensive as this summer, and certainly not when it comes to Woodward.


While many United fans have serious misgivings over the executive vice-chairperson and his primary motivations, Woodward has delivered the majority of what the manager has demanded over the last 24 months.

In their first summer working together, United bought all four players Mourinho had identified and, come 2017, only Ivan Perisic had escaped their grasp.

This summer Mourinho’s has been one long onslaught on many different fronts, with the manager making it clear that he needs to be backed to the hilt if he is to be expected to meet his targets on the field.

First, he used his engagements during the World Cup to question why the Perisic deal hadn’t got over the line. Then, he embarked upon his string of sulky tirades during the pre-season trip to America.

He has even gone to the extent of using Scott McTominay in a back three against Real Madrid to underline the shortage of senior centre-backs, as Woodward mulls over pursuits for Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire.

His public statements reflect a general belief around the club that Mourinho and Woodward’s relationship has frayed to a large extent.

While Woodward has agreed to go into battle for the players Mourinho has identified, his inability to strike a quick deal has been of concern.

Even should he now land one or both remaining targets, the seed has been planted in the manager’s head that his board are not willing or able to get him what he needs and when he needs it. United have brought in only one senior signing in midfielder Fred with just a week remaining of the transfer window.

That is not what Mourinho had in mind at the start of the summer. But Woodward’s insistence on haggling for every last dime where possible was identified as the reason for not getting Perisic last summer. The decision to step back from talks with Tottenham over Alderweireld when the two parties were £20 million apart earlier has raised further eyebrows.

As a former accountant and investment banker, Woodward seemingly can’t shake off his financial instinct, attempting to drive the hardest of bargains and walking away if United are not getting their absolute money’s worth. This doesn’t sit well with Mourinho’s desire to go all out to get the team winning titles again, at any cost.

Should the Mourinho trend of succumbing to a third-season implosion continue, you can bet that Woodward’s transfer strategy will be one of the things the Portuguese will identify to explain his failure to deliver at Manchester United.