Mourinho plans transfer for star he says he turned into Man Utd's 'best player'

05 July 2023 , 23:26

559     0

Mourinho plans transfer for star he says he turned into Man Utd's 'best player'

Jose Mourinho wants Roma to sign Scott McTominay this summer, having previously claimed the midfielder was Manchester United’s “best player”.

McTominay, 26, was handed his senior debut by Mourinho in 2017 and has gone on to become a regular under several of the Portuguese’s successors in the Old Trafford dugout. He has amassed 209 first-team appearances at the club, scoring 19 goals.

The Scotland international has been linked with an exit from United this summer as the club look to freshen up their midfield options. Mason Mount has already been signed from Chelsea while Moises Caicedo and Sofyan Amrabat are among other midfielders linked to the side.

McTominay wouldn't be the only United midfielder to leave this summer, with Zidane Iqbal leaving for Utrecht and Fred potentially joining Fulham. The Brazilian is entering the final year of his contract, and all signs point to Erik ten Hag letting him leave for the right price.

According to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, as cited by Sport Witness, Mourinho is driving Roma’s interest in McTominay. Such a move would unite the player with Nemanja Matic, whom he played alongside at Old Trafford over several seasons.

Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash

United would demand a fee in the region of £25million for their youth-team graduate, whom Mourinho values highly. In United’s Player of the Year awards at the end of the 2017/18 campaign, the Portuguese even invented his own ‘Manager’s Player of the Year’ award, which he handed to the midfielder.

McTominay was a trusted lieutenant of Mourinho's at Man Utd (AFP/Getty Images)

Have Your Say! Should Man Utd allow McTominay’s exit to Roma? Tell us what you think here.

Mourinho has been effusive of his praise for McTominay over the years since. When he was Tottenham manager in 2019, Mourinho said: "Yes it's very important (giving academy players first-team experiences), Scott McTominay is only the best player at Manchester United."

McTominay, for his part, has been equally complimentary of Mourinho – whom he has kept in contact with. "I obviously don't want to speak too much about previous managers but Jose's very special to me," he explained in late 2019.

Mourinho handed McTominay a unique award in 2018

"He still keeps in contact with me now and keeps in touch with me after some games. He'll always have a special place in mine and my family's heart because he was the one who brought you in, he was the one who trusted you, he's the one who had belief in you.

"I owe a tremendous amount of credit to him because if it wasn't for him I might not be here."

Colin Millar