Jose Mourinho decided against signing Celtic hero Virgil van Dijk while in charge of Manchester United.
The Mirror report the Portuguese manager was interested in the Dutchman at his time at Southampton. Instead, the Reds boss opted to go after two different players including one other Dutchman.
Mourinho will be reeling after seeing van Dijk go to the very top of football.
Legendary boss in silly decision saga
Mourinho’s time at Manchester United isn’t the best for the folklore manager.
He is the winner of many championships with lots of different clubs in his years as a boss.
He is one man with an eye for a player but it seems that one glaringly obvious defender passed him by.
Champions League winning van Dijk was plying his trade at Southampton just after coming from Celtic. Hoops fans were raving about van Dijk before the move to St Mary’s. The Saints got the Dutch international for a cut-price deal with all things considered.
However, even at Southampton Mourinho couldn’t believe that van Dijk was the man for him.
If Mourinho managed to pry him from Southampton, then perhaps his fortunes may have been different.
His Europa League win could arguably have been a Champions League win with his acquisition.
However, Mourinho reportedly had his reasons.
Better options available at the time
According to The Mirror, Mourinho’s eye was on Toby Alderweireld from Spurs and Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli. Neither are Red Devil players at present.
Focus was then on Harry Maguire who has since become a Red Devil.
Additionally, United were under the mindset that Liverpool was van Dijk’s destination after Southampton.
Perhaps Mourinho can be forgiven for this momentary lapse in judgement. Other aspects do come into decision making so perhaps it isn’t all his fault.
Nevertheless, there will be Manchester United supporters who will be kicking themselves with the news.
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