Dublin: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho does not feel Neymar’s proposed world-record move to French soccer giants Paris Saint-Germain is expensive.
“When we paid that amount for Paul (Pogba), I said that he was not expensive. Expensive are the ones that get into a certain level with a certain quality, I think Neymar is going to happen the same, I don’t think he’s expensive,” Mourinho was quoted as saying by ESPNFC after Manchester United beat Sampdoria 2-1 in a pre-season game here on Wednesday evening.
Neymar is on the cusp of a €222 million ($262.95 million) move to Paris after FC Barcelona revealed on Wednesday that the Brazilian has expressed his desire to move away from the Catalan heavyweights.
The transfer would more than double the record fee Manchester United paid for France midfielder Paul Pogba 12 months ago when he moved to Old Trafford from Juventus.
“I think he’s expensive now because you are going to have more players of £100 million ($132.52 million) and £80 million ($106 million) and £60 million ($79.5 million) and I think that’s the problem because Neymar is one of the best players in the world.
“Commercially he’s very strong and PSG thought about it, so I don’t think the problem is Neymar, it’s the consequences,” Mourinho said.
Meanhwile, the Portuguese manager said he would like to acquire the services of one more player before the end of the transfer window. United have already roped in Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic this summer.
“The squad is good and as I told a few months ago I was hoping for four players to improve the squad and the club did a fantastic job by getting three of them which is difficult in the crazy market where we are now.
“To get three out of four I thank the club for that, I would be happier if they give me four of four but they did a great job,” he said. (IANS