Sir Alex Ferguson urged Jose Mourinho to buy Dele Alli at Man United

Jose Mourinho’s time at Old Trafford isn’t looked back at fondly. Though today, he’s revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson urged him to sign Dele Alli for Man United…

Six years ago, Dele Alli would be part of *that* MK Dons side which ripped Man United to shreds and beat us 4-0 under Louis van Gaal. Although the then-18-year-old wouldn’t get on the score-sheet, he had an excellent game.

That summer, Alli would move to Tottenham Hotspur and repeat his excellence at Premier League level. Now, managed by Mourinho, things have gone a little downhill for the Englishman.

Alli has struggled for form, which is rather normal for most attacking players who work under Mourinho. However, the attacking-midfielder may well have found himself at Old Trafford – that’s if Sir Alex Ferguson got his way…

Mourinho has today revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson urged the Portugues gaffer to sign the 24-year-old star for the Reds, claiming that ‘this guy is a Manchester United player’.

See the quote in full here:

“Sir Alex Ferguson gave me only one bit of advice in two and a half years: Buy Dele Alli. ‘That guy, with that mentality, the way he plays, the aggression he has in mind. This guy is the Manchester United player. Buy Dele Alli’. Mourinho is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

“And he [Ferguson] has an eye for a player. But he [Alli] is not a good trainer, we need to find motivation for the guy.”

To me, this just feels like typical Mourinho, whose relationship with young players tends to be a real uphill struggle. Alli certainly had no problem training under the previous regime with Mauricio Pochettino at the helm. What’s changed…?

In regards to Alli at United, I guess he’d fit in with what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is trying to achieve. In my personal view, though, I’m just not sure he’d start with regularity for the Reds.

He’d be a useful squad player, but is that a role he’d like to fulfil? I’d doubt it. Plus, Spurs are notoriously tough negotiators. They’re hardly going to let the Englishman head to a direct rival on the cheap…

If United were after a true #10 for Bruno Fernandes competition, I’d go for Jack Grealish. In terms of price-point, they’re probably not too dissimilar while Grealish offers far more versatility and flexibility.

About Jordan Street 19808 Articles
Mancunian. Red through and through. Season Ticket holder block E332.

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