Mourinho explains Giggs exit
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Jose Mourinho insists it is “not my fault” that Ryan Giggs chose to leave Manchester United because he wanted the top job himself.
Giggs, one of United’s greatest ever players, has left Old Trafford after 29 illustrious years at the club.
The Welshman was keen to become a manager in his own right and Giggs confirmed it in an open letter to supporters on Saturday.
And Mourinho confirmed in his first press conference as manager that there could be no place for Giggs, who was offered “any important job” at the club except for the one he truly wanted.
The Portuguese said: “I never run away from my responsibilities but I can say that it’s not my responsibility that Ryan Giggs is not in the club.
“The job that Ryan wanted to have was the one they have given to me. It’s not my fault. He wanted to be manager of Manchester United.
“He could be whatever he wanted in the club; they wanted to give him any important job, but he made a decision.
“Ryan wants to be a manager. Like 16 years ago, when I decided myself that I wanted to be a manager. Ryan has made his decision.
“I had two years on my contract left at Barcelona, when I was assistant. Do you think it was easy for me to leave that stability and take up a new fight? It’s not easy.
“If Ryan wants to come back one day when I am here then I will never stop him, and I will say ‘yes’ if the club asks my opinion. If he comes back as a manager it will be something natural and a consequence of his success as a manager.”
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Man Utd chase Pogba!
Manchester United are interested in bringing Paul Pogba back to the club, according to sources.
Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, said last month that the player is keen on moving to Real Madrid and that initial talks had taken place, but new United boss Jose Mourinho is also now in the market to bring him back to Old Trafford.
The France midfielder, who scored the 5-2 victory over Iceland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, left United in 2012 for nothing and he is likely to cost in excess of £80m to buy back.
Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had wanted to keep Pogba at the club and in his autobiography he accused Raiola of engineering the player’s move to Italy.
Ferguson wrote: “There are one or two football agents I simply do not like and Mino Raiola, Paul Pogba’s agent, is one of them. I distrusted him from the moment I met him. We had Paul under a three-year contract, and it had a one-year renewal option which we were eager to sign. But Raiola suddenly appeared on the scene and our first meeting was a fiasco.
“He and I were like oil and water. From then on our goose was cooked because Raiola had been able to ingratiate himself with Paul and his family and the player signed with Juventus.”
But Raiola’s relationship with Ferguson is not a barrier to Pogba, 23, re-joining United.
One of Raiola’s clients, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, moved to United last week, and another – Henrikh Mkhitaryan – is expected to complete his transfer from Borussia Dortmund this week.
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Nani secures Valencia switch
Portugal winger Nani has joined Valencia on a three-year deal after just one season with Fenerbahce.
The Turkish Super Lig club claimed in a statement that they had received €8.5million for the former Manchester United man, who is on international duty at Euro 2016.
Nani has scored twice in five appearances at the tournament to help guide Portugal to the semi-finals, where they will face Wales.
A return of eight goals in 28 league appearances helped Fener finish second last season behind Istanbul rivals Besiktas, with Nani’s high-profile arrival as well as that of former Old Trafford colleague Robin van Persie not enough for Fener to regain a title they last won in 2014.
He joins a strong Portuguese contingent at the Mestalla, where fellow Euro 2016 squad member Andre Gomes is a future colleague, with Ruben Vezo and Joao Cancelo also set to welcome him.
Nani is Valencia’s first dip into the transfer market for the 2016-17 season, with Pako Ayestaran looking to build on a bumpy campaign last time out.
He steered them to safety after calamitous spells under Nuno Espirito Santo and Nani’s former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville.
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BRIEFS
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Palace sign Tomkins for £10million
Crystal Palace have signed defender James Tomkins from West Ham for £10m. Tomkins, 27, has signed a five-year contract at Selhurst Park and becomes Palace manager Alan Pardew’s third signing of the summer following the acquisitions of winger Andros Townsend from Newcastle and goalkeeper Steve Mandanda from Marseille.
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Aulas hints at Valbuena exit
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed midfielder Mathieu Valbuena could leave the club before the new season starts. The Ligue 1 side have received inquiries from China for the 31-year-old playmaker, with Fenerbahce also asking about Valbuena, who missed out on France’s Euro 2016 squad after losing form last year.
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Fer completes move to Swansea
Swansea City have completed the signing of Netherlands international Leroy Fer from Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee. The midfielder who has signed a three-year contract, returns to the Liberty Stadium on a permanent deal following a successful loan spell there last season.
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Cresswell extends Hammers deal
West Ham full-back Aaron Cresswell has signed a one-year contract extension. Cresswell, 26, joined the Hammers from Ipswich two years ago and has firmly established himself in the side during that time. His extension will keep him at the club until 2021 and follows on from Michail Antonio signing a fresh deal on Mondayas manager Slaven Bilic looks to tie down all of his key personnel to longer contracts.
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Gomes signs new Watford deal
Watford goalkeeper Huerelho Gomes has signed a new improved contract with the club. The Brazilian, whose deal already runs until 2018, has been rewarded for his fine performances in goal for Watford over the past two years. The former Tottenham and PSV goalkeeper picked up the club’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards last term.
