Mourinho admits he has no chance of keeping Manchester United at Fenerbahce

It seems hardly a day goes by in 2018, for example, when the Portuguese dressing up isn’t complaining about something or the other; his face slapped back the proverbial spitting image.

However, while Mourinho is long gone at Old Trafford these days, Manchester United could yet find themselves reacquainting themselves with their old boss six years on as another summer window opens.

According to Turkish reporter Yagiz Sabuncuoglu at X, Man United could approach Mourinho’s new employers in the coming days to express their interest in £17million-rated Ferdi Kadioglu.

The exciting left-back was one of the talents at Euro 2024, shining during Turkey’s run to the quarter-finals. Mourinho is determined to keep Kadioglu – and all his star players for that matter – but it could be a deal with Fener keen to reunite with former Red Devils boss Victor Lindelof.

Manchester United could do business with Mourinho’s Fenerbahce

According to The Telegraph, talks to take Lindelof to Istanbul began at the end of June.

Even if United fail to complete the three-way transfer of Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Jarrad Branthwaite, opportunities are expected to be limited for the old Swede next term.

Just a few days later, Lindelof turned 30, he is typical of the classic Turkish Super Lig signing; an experienced big name, perhaps looking for one last big European contract.

Fenerbahce, for example, added considerable experience to their squad last year, bringing in Edin Dzeko, Dusan Tadic and another of Mourinho’s best Man United men in Fred.

And Mourinho, fully aware of Fenerbahce’s place in the football food chain, admits he will have to lower his sights on his regular transfer targets.

He cites Joao Neves – the midfielder admired by Manchester United and countless other European heavyweights – as just the sort of talent he will have to deal with at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

“Careful? I’m always (for Portugal’s best footballers),” Mourinho told Sport TV.

“The players in the league that convince me and that I would like to have here are beyond our reach and beyond the ambitions of the younger players.

“Joao Neves will never come to Fenerbahce at this stage of his career.”

Joao Neves is likely to stay at Benfica this summer

That’s true, although it doesn’t look like Neves is going anywhere this summer.

Benfica have made it clear they have no intention of letting the teenager leave unless his £102m release clause is triggered. They even released a statement in the winter confirming that no talks had taken place with United.

Along with Benfica team-mate Antonio Silva, who made a bit of a dent in his reputation with a disastrous performance during Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to Georgia at Euro 2024, Neves looks set to spend another year in Lisbon.

Man United are prioritizing a much more affordable deal in the shape of PSG’s Manuel Ugarte.

“I don’t know if the United rumors are true,” Bruno Fernandes – the Red Devils captain and Neves’ Portugal team-mate – told Sport TV recently. “But I know he’s ready for that big jump.

“He is an excellent player, he is in the national team. And that’s why the big clubs are after him.”

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