There was a time when a different expensive foreign midfielder was finding himself under scrutiny at Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson’s response when asked about Juan Sebastian Veron left no room for discussion.
‘He’s a f****** great player,’ said Ferguson in 2002. ‘And youse are all idiots.’
Fifteen years on and Jose Mourinho was in similar territory when asked about Paul Pogba. Mourinho’s words were rather more eloquent and had a broader target than merely the written media. Nevertheless, it was clear that now — as then — a very raw nerve had been touched.
‘I feel that the world is losing values and we all know that and envy is coming up to certain levels that I am scared about,’ said Mourinho.