Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho revealed that he “does not know” why Alexis Sanchez’s proposed transfer to Old Trafford had not yet been completed.
As part of the deal United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is expected to join Arsenal, but both he and Sanchez trained with their current clubs today.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Speaking before United’s trip to Burnley tomorrow, Mourinho had no update for the media. He said: “Nothing new. I think clearly everybody knows that we are there. There is no point in trying to hide or deny but not done at all.
“So in this moment, Mkhitaryan is our player, Sanchez is an Arsenal player and with a match tomorrow I want to switch off and focus on the most important thing, which is the match.
“Sometimes people think transfers involve a lot the managers in the negotiations. I think it depends on the profile of the club, the way we establish our jobs. In my case, when it goes to the table of negotiations, I like to be out. I am out and I will just calmly wait for news, no more than that.
“I will speak with you if one day we sign him, I can speak with you about him and what he can bring to our team. He’s an Arsenal player, he’s not my player, there’s no point in me speaking about something that may or may not happen.
“My involvement in the situation is just to say the reasons why I would like to have the player and no more than that, I’m out. Let’s be clearer if it happens. If it doesn’t happen, there is no point.”
While United and Arsenal wait on the confirmation of Sanchez’s long-awaited transfer, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has wished the Chilean and his rivals “good luck”.
City had long been the frontrunners to sign Sanchez, but according to Sky Sports they pulled out because “they were reportedly unhappy with the escalating costs of doing the deal”.
Guardiola was asked by media why City were unable to match United’s huge offer and the Spaniard said: “I am not the guy with the mathematics, the numbers. What I know right now is Alexis is still an Arsenal player.
“I think he is going to go to United so congratulations to both of them. In the end, the players and managers decide where they want to play. Good luck.”