Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho confirms that Nemanja Matic 'very, very much' wants to join
* Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says Nemanja Matic wants to join
* Serbian underwent his medical on Sunday at Carrington ahead of £40m move
* Sportsmail understands the picture of Matic in United training kit is authentic
* Mourinho has dimissed Galatasaray interest in midfielder Marouane Fellaini
Jose Mourinho confirmed that Nemanja Matic wants 'very, very much' to join Manchester United after a picture of the player undergoing a medical at the club was leaked.
The Chelsea midfielder is set to complete a £40m reunion with Mourinho in the near future and Sportsmail understands that the shot – which showed Matic in United training kit – is authentic.
However, speaking after his side coasted to a 3-0 friendly victory over Valerenga in Oslo, Mourinho declined to confirm that the move had been sealed.
Matic was pictured on Sunday already in United training gear but the deal is not yet confirmed. Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says Nemanja Matic is very keen to join the club
'I am waiting for news,' he said. 'I know that he (Matic) wants that very, very much. When a player wants it very, very much, the chance is bigger. I think we have a chance but in football until it's official - I saw so many things happen that I refuse to say more than I am telling you now.'
Despite paying a hefty fee – which could rise to £45m - for a player who turns 29 on Tuesday, Mourinho will be delighted to have prized what he sees as a key asset away from his old employers.
When shown the picture, which captured Matic in United training kit bearing the vacant number 31, Mourinho responded: 'I don't know because I was not there. Number 31 is a free number.'
Some may be surprised that the west London club are allowing the midfielder to move to a direct Premier League title rival, especially in light of manager Antonio Conte's comments last week that he wanted to avoid 'a Jose Mourinho season'.
The Italian was referring to the disastrous 2015-16 campaign, when Mourinho's Chelsea collapsed after winning the title and the manager was sacked with the team in 16th. When asked for his reaction to Conte's quote, Mourinho was unimpressed.
'I don't know,' he said. 'I could answer in many different ways but I am not going to lose my hair to speak about Antonio's comments.'
One player who will not be moving is Marouane Fellaini, who scored the first goal at a rainy Ullevaal Stadion with a powerful, deflected header.
The big Belgian had been linked with a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray, but Mourinho was quick to set the record straight.
'It is easier for Galatasaray to get me than Marouane,' he said. 'Marouane - forget it. He's very important for me.'
New signing Romelu Lukaku netted United's second after the break with fellow substitute Scott McTominay completing the scoring with his first senior goal for the club.
Mourinho hailed the impact of his £75m striker.
'Strikers they like to score goals,' he said. 'It's not important for me but it' s important for him, for his confidence, his self-esteem. We managers are many times happy with them even when they don't score because of the way they participate.'
Mourinho was also robust in his defence on Victor Lindelof. The £31m arrival from Benfica, 23, has struggled in pre-season but Mourinho has no doubts that he will become a key man at Old Trafford. 'Benfica is a giant club,' he said.
'I always think players come from Benfica mentally ready. Benfica is one of the dominant teams, so he is used to playing with the ball rather than without it. He needs his time to develop. We are going to give him time.
'Such a young player needs time. Manchester United is a huge club, huge responsibility, Premier League is the same. Let's give him time but happy with what he is doing step by step.'
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