Manchester United did not back Jose Mourinho in transfer market, says Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku believes Jose Mourinho would have been more of a success at Manchester United if he was backed in the transfer market.
Mourinho was sacked midway through his third season, having previously won the Europa League and League Cup but left with the club in sixth place having spent around £400million in the transfer market during his tenure.
Lukaku was Mourinho's biggest outlay during his time at Old Trafford, arriving from Everton in a deal worth £75m and scored 27 times in his debut season as United finished second.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has since confirmed that he overruled "one or two" of Mourinho's transfer targets, telling United We Stand: "It is true that there was a difference of opinion on one or two players between the manager and the recruitment department.
"Sometimes I have to be one who delivers the ‘no’, which isn’t easy, because our natural tendency is to back the manager in every possible circumstance, but we have to listen to the recruitment experts too."
Mourinho was understood to be keen to sign Toby Alderweireld, who recently signed a new contract under him at Tottenham, and Harry Maguire, who eventually joined from Leicester City the following summer.
Lukaku told Sky Sports News: "I think Jose Mourinho - if he would have had the players that he wanted, he would have done better than what we did."
He added: “I'm always an open-minded guy and at the end of the day, as a footballer, you have to do what your manager asks.
“I've never had any problem with any manager I've had - it shows my professionalism and my willingness to work.”
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