Manchester United ‘block Jose Mourinho’s Roma from signing Alex Telles on loan as Red Devils want to sell back-up left-back permanently’ in blow to iconic Portuguese manager who is looking for Leonardo Spinazzola cover
- Manchester United have blocked Roma from loaning Alex Telles, say reports
- Telles moved to Old Trafford for £15m last year but played nine league games
- United reportedly want the 28-year-old to leave on a permanent deal this year
- Jose Mourinho is looking for left-back cover after Leonardo Spinazzola’s injury
Manchester United have blocked Jose Mourinho and Roma from signing left-back Alex Telles on loan this season, according to reports.
Telles moved to Old Trafford from Porto for a £15million fee last summer but was limited to just nine Premier League appearances due to excellent displays from England international Luke Shaw.
Mourinho, meanwhile, is looking for a temporary option at left-back at Roma after Italy star Leonardo Spinazzola picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Euro 2020 and will be sidelined for several months.
Manchester United have blocked Alex Telles from joining Roma on loan, according to reports
The news will come as a blow to Roma boss Jose Mourinho – who used to manage United
And according to Sky Sports Italia, United have rejected a loan approach from Mourinho’s Roma as they want to sell the left-back permanently.
United are already letting young full-back Brandon Williams leave the club on loan, with Sportsmail revealing last week that the 20-year-old is close to sealing a temporary spell at Southampton.
Reports in Italy earlier this week claimed that the Giallorossi were in talks with the Premier League club over Telles’ availability, but Roma were only prepared for a loan deal.
The 28-year-old defender does have experience playing in Serie A after he spent the 2015-16 season on loan at Inter Milan, making 22 appearances in all competitions for the Nerazzurri.
Telles joined United for £15million last summer but only played in nine Premier League games
The rejected offer for Telles will come as a blow to former United boss Mourinho, who was announced as the new Roma boss at the beginning of May.
The Portuguese coach confessed in his first interview since being appointed manager of the Serie A club that he needs new signings to begin his project in the Italian capital.
Mourinho told the club’s official website: ‘First I will wait for some gifts to arrive. I hope the board and Tiago Pinto will give me some gifts. Because that would be nice.
‘It would help me and give me the best chance of developing the squad to start this process.’
Mourinho confessed last month that he needs new signings in order to succeed at Roma
Roma made their first signing of the Mourinho era this week when Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio arrived for a £9.8million fee.
The Serie A club are also reportedly in negotiations with Arsenal over a deal for midfielder Granit Xhaka, though it is said the two sides are around £5million apart in their valuation for the Switzerland captain.
There may also be some significant outgoings this summer as Sky Sports Italia claim Mourinho has told eight players to train away from the first-team, including former Chelsea winger Pedro, Justin Kluivert, Steven Nzonzi and goalkeeper Robin Olsen.
Ante Coric, Davide Santon and Federico Fazio have also reportedly been cast aside by Mourinho.
