Manchester United linked up with a host of attacking players last summer after Erik ten Hag took up one of the toughest managerial jobs in the world.
With uncertainty surrounding the future of Cristiano Ronaldo and inconsistent performances from Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford in the past, the club had a responsibility to recruit a top scorer.
However, the Portuguese ended up staying and Martial and Rashford shone in preseason and at the start of the campaign, and the Red Devils ended up focusing on other, more important goals.
Arnautovic was close to signing for United
One name that came close to making it to Old Trafford was Bologna star Marko Arnautovic. The backlash from fans meant that a deal for the Austrian never materialized.
The 33-year-old’s misdemeanors meant he was never a popular choice with the fans and the club opted to strengthen their attack by buying Brazilian Antony.
But the former West Ham United attacker has now revealed to Sportweek, the weekly magazine published by Gazzetta, that José Mourinho wanted him back when he was United manager.
Marko Arnautovic tells SportWeek about Manchester United’s failed move to Jose Mourinho:
“Their Manchester United had already bought Pogba and they didn’t have enough money for me.” https://t.co/DZSwtggUfj
— Get Italian soccer news (@_GIFN) December 24, 2022
“He did, he loved me when I was at West Ham,” said Arnautovic (via football italia).
The striker was part of the Inter Milan team that won Mourinho’s treble in 2010. The Portuguese was never his biggest fan, however.
Attitude problems were mentioned as a major problem. But the striker revealed that Mourinho eventually recovered and was confident in his worth.
Mourinho wanted Arnautovic
“He told me: ‘How much do you cost?’ And I was like, ‘So do you still love me?’
“However, his Manchester United team had bought Paul Pogba and he didn’t have enough money for me.”
Pogba had joined the Red Devils from Juventus in 2016 for a record £89m, while Arnautovic played for West Ham from 2017 to 2019.
Despite his recent resurgence, United and Ten Hag were right not to bring Arnautovic back to the Premier League as the club should focus on younger targets better suited to the manager’s demands.
United Matchday Magazine – Stay on top of everything in the red. Still itching for more United content? Get everything you need right here. For just £1.25 per issue / £3.75 per month, you’ll receive unique United information, delivered directly to your inbox, before every game and throughout the month.
Get exclusive preparation for every game, plus team news, tactics and history. Not only that – United Matchday is packed with articles, news, transfer news, riddles, nostalgia and humor. Impress your friends and stay on top of everything in red!
