Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho rejected the possibility of signing Virgil van Dijk two seasons ago before the defender moved to Liverpool from Southampton.
The Independent reported that, during his time at Old Trafford, Mourinho told the club’s board that he didn’t want to sign a defender in the January 2018 transfer window.
The Daily Mail added that Mourinho was happy with his purchases of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof at centre-back, with Liverpool-focused Twitter channel @AnfieldEdition highlighting the story.
Jose Mourinho told the Manchester United board not to enter the race for Virgil Van Dijk’s signature during 2017 because he was happy with the signings of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof. [Daily Mail]https://t.co/odsKcYhMQp
— Anfield Edition | æ (@AnfieldEdition) September 5, 2019
While Mourinho was sacked by Manchester United last December and the club have since spent £80m on Harry Maguire, a world-record fee for a defender, Van Dijk has won numerous team and individual prizes at Liverpool.
The Netherlands international helped the Reds to Champions League and UEFA Super Cup triumphs this year, as well as being named PFA Player of the Year and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2018/19.
These Liverpool fans on Twitter were very happy with Mourinho’s decision to pass up the opportunity to move for Van Dijk:
Mourinho is a legend!!! Thanks for this!!!!!
— NdodiCynthia (@utchaycynthia) September 6, 2019
Haha cheers pal! That’s a lovely Player of the Year award that Bailly has in his trophy case at home!
— IrishScouser (@irish_scouser) September 6, 2019
Thanks Jose. You truly are the special one who gifted Liverpool the best defender/player in the EPL
— Liverpool Dragons (@LiverpoolRed78) September 6, 2019
Thanks to you JM
— Sampson Target (@sampsontarget) September 6, 2019
Or he knew big virgil was set on joining Klopp ar LFC
— Libyan Amir ⴰⵎⵉⵔ ⵉⵃⵜⴰⵛ (@elninoamir) September 6, 2019
More like he knew he wouldn't get him anyway.
— Ste (@StePlunk) September 5, 2019
How different would things have been at Manchester United and Liverpool if Mourinho had gone for Van Dijk and brought him to Old Trafford? Share your thoughts by commenting below!
