According to Sky Sports, Mourinho admitted defeat in his bid to bring Bale to Manchester United after the loss to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.
Manchester United lost to Real Madrid 2-1 last night with Isco, Casemiro and Lukaku all on the score-sheet for their respective teams. Bale started for the capital club with Zidane sending a clear sign to Mourinho that the Welshman is an integral part of his plans.
“Clearly the club wants him, the manager wants him and he wants the club, so for me it’s game over – even before it started. It’s game over clearly because everybody knows he is going to stay.” said Jose.
Bale had always insisted he was focussed on Madrid and dismissed transfer rumours but never entirely committed himself to the Spanish team. Mourinho has previously asked for his transfer targets to make their clubs aware of their request to leave but it appears as though Gareth made no attempt to do so.
In fact, reports claim that Jose told the former Tottenham man that he hasn’t talked enough, meaning he didn’t make speak to the Madrid board or manager. The signing of Matic can be used as an example to the Portuguese manager’s methods when attempting to sign a player that the club refuse to.
It’s been made clear over the past few days that Conte was not pleased about the sale of the midfielder, especially to a direct rival and it appears that it was the Chelsea owner who sanctioned the move. The Russian businessman has been rumoured to agree to transfers due to players loyalty to their club, an ironic statement.
It has also quickly become transparent that had Matic not asked for a move away to Manchester United it wouldn’t have happened. Had Bale done the same then he may also have been at Old Trafford before the season began.
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Either way, Mourinho must now consider alternatives to the Welshman as it seems like Bale won’t move to Manchester United, not this summer at least. A winger is still in demand and with Perisic also likely a ‘game over’ situation too then it would be interesting to see who else is on Jose’s list. Who is the next target?