Zimpapers Logo

Jose Mourinho

LONDON. — Jose Mourinho will be faced with a litany of problems once the polarising Portuguese manager finally starts his Manchester United reign later this week. Mourinho has agreed personal terms with Manchester United, according to Sky sources.

The Portuguese’s agent, Jorge Mendes, and United executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, met in London yesterday for face-to-face talks over the remaining unresolved issues in contract negotiations.

These include a number of image rights issues, which must be resolved before a contract can be signed, such as Mourinho’s commercial deal with Jaguar – a conflict of interest due to United’s sponsorship with car-maker Chevrolet.

And Mourinho was set to be confirmed as United’s new boss as early as yesterday after his agent Mendes met the club’s executive vice-chairman Woodward for talks in London on Tuesday.

United were hopeful of making an announcement to confirm Mourinho’s appointment yesterday, but the complex nature of the contract details means it could be today before the deal is confirmed.

The Portuguese was pictured walking in London late on Tuesday night, flanked by his bodyguard, and was captured checking his mobile phone.

The former Chelsea boss is reported to have been offered a three-year deal worth £15 million per season and would be given a transfer war-chest of around £200 million to revive the troubled English Premier League club following Louis van Gaal’s sacking on Monday.

Mourinho is said to have instructed United’s executive vice-chairman Woodward to sign a new centre-back, right midfielder, central midfielder and centre-forward, with free agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to be the striker.

The incoming United boss is understood to want a “captain” in central midfield.

Mourinho has long dreamed of managing United, but the fulfilment of that ambition will come with strings attached.

The 53-year-old’s arrival at Old Trafford will be greeted with relief by large sections of the United fanbase and squad in the aftermath of two turbulent years under the drab management of arch pragmatist van Gaal.

However, Ronald De Boer, who played under van Gaal at Ajax before joining him at Barcelona where Mourinho was working as an assistant, says Mourinho can be just as conservative and acerbic as van Gaal.

“People run away with the impression of Mourinho and it’s the same with van Gaal. You hate him or you love him,” De Boer said.

“There will always be players who are not playing who will dislike him.

“Mourinho is like Van Gaal, a workaholic. Sometimes it’s not pretty but he knows how to grind out wins. That’s what you get.”

Before he even has time to settle into his new office at United’s Carrington training ground, Mourinho must solve the thorny problem of Ryan Giggs’ status. Mourinho is expected to bring long-time assistant Rui Faria and goalkeeping coach Silvino Louro with him, meaning van Gaal’s assistant coaches Albert Stuivenberg and Frans Hoek are likely to be dismissed.

That would leave Giggs as the last member of van Gaal’s staff and his future is now uncertain after he was reportedly offered a less senior coaching position by Mourinho. — AFP.