Easier for Galatasaray to get me – Mourinho ends Fellaini rumours

Jose Mourinho has ended speculation linking Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini with a move to Galatasaray, claiming it would be easier for the Turkish club to sign him as manager than buy the midfielder.

Gala’s sporting director Cenk Ergun suggested his side were in pole position to land Fellaini, who has split opinion during his time at Old Trafford.

But despite United reportedly being on the brink of signing another midfielder in the form of Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic, Mourinho insisted Fellaini – who is in the last year of his contract – will not be allowed to leave.

“It’s easier for Galatasaray to get me than to get Maroaune,” Mourinho told reporters. “Forget it. He’s too important to me.”

@Fellaini in full flight. #MUTOUR pic.twitter.com/OvzmttI2Mn

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 30, 2017

The Portuguese was speaking to the media after United’s 3-0 friendly victory over Valerenga, a game in which £75million arrival Romelu Lukaku was on target with a header from a corner.

“It’s nice. Strikers like to score goals,” Mourinho said of Lukaku’s strike. “It’s not important for me but probably it is for him, for his confidence.

“We managers are many times happy with strikers, even when they don’t score, because of the way they participate in team organisation and game plans. But to them, scoring goals is always important.”

. @VLindelof says he is settling in well at #MUFC – glad to hear it, Victor!

Get more #MUTOUR reaction on #MUTV : https://t.co/5ld1vrT6hL pic.twitter.com/KL0HRi6ZYp

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 30, 2017

Defender Victor Lindelof was mostly untested as United kept a clean sheet with ease but Mourinho picked out the centre-back, who received criticism amid some uneven displays on the club’s tour of the United States, for praise.

“Step by step,” Mourinho said. “Benfica is a giant club, I always think that players coming from Benfica come mentally ready because they’re a big club and the responsibility to play for them makes players ready.

“But the Portuguese league is different. Benfica is one of the dominant teams so he’s more used to playing with the ball. He needs his time. We’ll give him his time. Manchester United is a huge club, huge responsibility. But I’m happy with what he’s doing.”