United hold day two of talks with Mourinho

Published May 25, 2016
Mourinho is mulling a move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic as one of his first moves in the job, according to media reports, after the star Swedish centre-forward played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain last week.  — REUTERS/File
Mourinho is mulling a move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic as one of his first moves in the job, according to media reports, after the star Swedish centre-forward played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain last week. — REUTERS/File

LONDON: A second day of negotiations to make Jose Mourinho the next manager of Manchester United were taking place Wednesday ahead of an expected announcement that he will take the job this week.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager has agreed personal terms on a three-year deal with a likely annual salary of over $15 million but issues remain over image rights, Sky News reported.

Mourinho is mulling a move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic as one of his first moves in the job, according to media reports, after the star Swedish centre-forward played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain last week.

United finally sacked Louis van Gaal on Monday, two days after the club won the FA Cup with victory against Crystal Palace.

The Old Trafford club's failure to qualify for the lucrative Champions League proved fatal to the Dutchman's hopes of survival.

Mourinho isn't Manchester United

As talks between Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes and the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward were set to continue, Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona questioned whether he was the right man for the job.

“I love Jose Mourinho, but in terms of the type of football he plays, I don't think he is Manchester United,” the Frenchman told the Guardian.

Cantona added that he would have “loved” to see Pep Guardiola take over at the club.

Guardiola will instead take over at Manchester City next season.

'If I was Giggsy now I would look to start my career as a manager somewhere else'

Meanwhile, uncertainty lingered about the future of van Gaal's deputy Ryan Giggs, who had been seen as an eventual successor to van Gaal but was passed over.

His former Wales teammate Robbie Savage was among those who suggested that Giggs, who has spent 28 years at the club, should now look for opportunities beyond Old Trafford.

“If I was Giggsy now I would look to start my career as a manager somewhere else,” Savage said.

“If Giggsy can go out and make his own decisions now, do well somewhere, he can come back and the United job will be his.”

Opinion

Editorial

Slow start
Updated 15 Jun, 2024

Slow start

Despite high attendance, the NA managed to pass only a single money bill during this period.
Sindh lawlessness
Updated 15 Jun, 2024

Sindh lawlessness

A recently released report describes the law and order situation in Karachi as “worryingly poor”.
Punjab budget
15 Jun, 2024

Punjab budget

PUNJAB’S budget for 2024-25 provides much fodder to those who believe that the increased provincial share from the...
Budget and politics
Updated 14 Jun, 2024

Budget and politics

PML-N, scared of taking bold steps lest it loses whatever little public support it has, has left its traditional support — traders — virtually untouched.
New talks?
14 Jun, 2024

New talks?

WILL this prove another false start, or may we expect a more sincere effort this time? Reference is made to the...
A non-starter
14 Jun, 2024

A non-starter

WHILE the UN Security Council had earlier this week adopted a US-backed resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza...