Guti slams Mourinho over Essien deal

Former Real Madrid star Guti has slammed Jose Mourinho for selling Esteban Granero and signing Michael Essien on loan.

Guti, who played over 350 La Liga games for Real Madrid between 1995 and 2010, is upset Real coach Mourinho replaced a young Spanish player for a foreigner in Chelsea’s Essien, who is in the later stages of his career.

“There are some things I can’t understand in football and one of those is that Granero is leaving so that Essien can arrive. Granero is a much better player and he is Spanish,” Guti told Marca.

“Right now the best players are Spanish, and what happens is that you spend a lot more money if you buy foreigners, which annoys me greatly.”

Granero has signed for English Premier League side Queens Park Rangers and made his debut on Saturday against English champions Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

Guti said Real Madrid did not need either Essien or Lassana Diarra alongside Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso and new signing Luka Modric in midfield.

“It is my opinion,” the 35-year-old said. “That does not mean I am right.”