Man Utd EXCLUSIVE: Jose Mourinho on collision course with Ed Woodward over Anthony Martial
JOSE MOURINHO is on a fresh collision course with Manchester United bosses over unsettled French ace Anthony Martial.
Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2018 by Dailystar.co.uk
Man Utd star Anthony Martial has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford for a while
Starsport understands Mourinho has made a new plea to executive vice chairman Ed Woodward to sell Martial before the European transfer window closes next week.
Mourinho is adamant Martial is not good enough and wants to sell him to the highest bidder to raise funds to spend on new signings in January.
But Woodward disagrees with Mourinho and is holding firm by refusing to flog Martial for less than top dollar.
The stand off is creating more tension between the two and will do nothing to improve what has become a fractured relationship.
Mourinho felt Woodward let him down in the summer by failing to land some of the major signings he wanted.
But Woodward refused to be held to ransom over the likes of Harry Maguire, Ivan Perisic, Yerry Mina and Toby Alderweireld.
Woodward points to the fact he spent more than £70m on defensive duo Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof in the last two summers, only to see both of them struggle to make a serious impact.
Mourinho recalled Martial to the team for the 3-2 defeat at Brighton, but hauled him off after just an hour.
Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho wants to sell Anthony Martial
Sources inside Old Trafford claim this was Mourinho sending another clear message to Woodward, who was sat in the stands at the Amex Stadium.
Mourinho fined Martial during the close season for returning home without permission from the summer tour of America to be at the birth of his child.
But Woodward is sticking by Martial, despite interest from clubs in Spain and France.
United agreed a deal which could rise to £58m when he joined them from Monaco in 2015.
Man Utd executive vice chairman Ed Woodward wants to keep Martial
Woodward believes United have made a long term investment in someone who is still just 22 - and that agreeing to sell him now would come close to admitting the club made a huge mistake.
Whatever happens with Martial between now and the end of this month, Mourinho is facing a losing battle if he decides to pick a fight with Woodward, who is close to owners the Glazers.
Former United star Lee Sharpe reckons Mourinho, who has also had problems with Paul Pogba, is living on borrowed time at United and will be gone by Christmas.
Sharpe said: “Mourinho is the wrong man for the job. When he came to Chelsea the first time he was quite charming and fun, but now he just seems dour and fed up.
"He’s moaned about not signing new players and not bigging up the ones he’s got. The football’s not entertaining and what makes it twice as bad is that their two biggest rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool, do play exciting football.
"His negative style does not fit in with the expansive football that United fans want. I think he’ll be gone before Christmas.”
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