Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said Wednesday he
does not believe the record-shattering 222 million euro ($260 million) transfer
fee Paris St Germain are willing to pay for Neymar is expensive.
But the Reds boss, speaking after his side beat Sampdoria
2-1 in Dublin in a pre-season friendly, is concerned how the staggering figure
will affect future transfers.
Mourinho shelled out 105.2 million euros ($111 million) last
summer to re-sign their former midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus, but the
French outfit are poised to double that record to tempt the Brazilian from
Barcelona.
“When we signed Paul Pogba, I said he was not expensive,”
Mourinho said.
“Expensive are the ones that get to a certain level without
a certain quality. I don’t think £200 million for Neymar is expensive.
“Expensive is the fact there will now be more players at
£100m, more players at £50m, more players at £60m — that’s the problem.
“Neymar is one of the best players in the world, so
commercially that is very strong but the problem is not Neymar — the problem is
the consequences.”
Mourinho was speaking after a late Juan Mata goal gave his
United team victory in their final pre-season game, after a Dennis Praet strike
had cancelled out Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s first half goal.
The win puts United in a confident mood ahead of next
Tuesday’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Real Madrid in Macedonia.
Mourinho revealed the club are likely to appeal the two-game
European ban handed to Phil Jones after verbally abusing anti-doping officials
after the Europa League final win in May.
“Put yourself in his position. He wins a European cup and
wants to celebrate with his team,” Mourinho said.
“He wants to get the cup, the medal and be in the pictures
but one doctor wants to close him in a small room because of the doping
control.
“It’s very hard to control a player in this situation and
UEFA should consider this. It’s not a normal match — it’s a cup, a medal, a
celebration. It’s everything.
“There was no wrongdoing in his behaviour, just a human
desire to celebrate. I feel really sorry for him and I don’t think it’s fair.
“I would (appeal) if I was him. If you do that you have the
risk of even more punishment but it’s a decision I will leave with him.”
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