Report claims 10 players will ask to leave Man Utd if Mourinho stays

The extent of the divide at Manchester United has been ‘exposed’ by a report that claims up to 10 first-team players could look to leave Old Trafford if Jose Mourinho remains as manager.

The United boss appears to have bought himself some more time after Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Newcastle – though the United boss appears to have landed himself in hot water by swearing in Portuguese down the TV camera at full-time.

Much has been written about Mourinho’s ongoing dispute with Paul Pogba, while rows with Anthony Martial, Eric Bailly and more recently, Alexis Sanchez, has also made the news.

According to the Daily Mail, the situation is far worse than initially expected and a number of high-profile stars are ready to seek departures if the Portuguese coach stays on.

Of those, Pogba is said to be “desperate to leave” after his fallout with the manager, although he may push for an exit regardless of Mourinho’s future at Old Trafford.

Martial and David De Gea, meanwhile, are in the final year of their United contracts and while the club retain a 12-month option on those deals, it’s believed the former is only prepared to sign a new deal if Mourinho leaves and the latter is “reticent about committing the best years of his career to the club” given his concerns the coach can deliver silverware.

On top of those three players it’s also suggested that Luke Shaw, Bailly, Antonio Valencia, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Ashley Young and Phil Jones could also look to leave.

While the likes of Mata, Young, Jones and Herrera could leave due to a mixture of old age or to seek a fresh challenge, the likes of Shaw, Bailly and Valencia have all also had their differences with Mourinho.

According to the report, United have attempted to hold new contract talks with Shaw, but he “has not forgiven the manager’s brutal criticism over the last two years” and will look to move on as a result if Mourinho stays.

Either way, with Mourinho seemingly having the short-term support of the United board, they may have a decision to make over the long term if reports are proved true that a number of their star names are looking to move on.

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