Chris Kamara revealed that he advised Jose Mourinho sign Virgil van Dyke while he was in charge Manchester United.
A number of top clubs expressed interest in signing Van Dijk while at Southampton, but Liverpool won the race and brought the Dutch defender to Anfield in January 2018 in a deal worth £75 million.
That has proven to be money well spent, with Van Dijk establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the world and helping Jurgen Klopp’s team to win several titles, including the Premier League and the Champions League.
Former Sky Sports reporter Kamara says he pushed Mourinho to pick up Van Dijk during his reign at Manchester United and it appears the Portuguese boss was interested in a deal.
According to Kamara, Mourinho said United were unwilling to cough up the money needed to sign Van Dijk, allowing Liverpool to sign a deal with fellow Premier League club Southampton.
“I can exclusively reveal that I told Jose Mourinho to bring Virgil van Dijk to Manchester United,” Kamara, who recently received an MBE, said on the Good football podcast.
‘Jose said, ‘this lot [Man Utd] won’t give me the money for him.” And then Van Dijk went to Liverpool.’
Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney, who was a guest on the podcast, responded: ‘Manchester United fans will be totally blown away when they hear that!’
The Watford legend added: ‘He’s unbelievably good, Van Dijk. He’s so tall and so fast. Not only is he physical and very fast, he can pass with both feet, he is a Rolls-Royce of a player. I think he’s just a level above everyone else.’
Mourinho spent almost two years at Manchester United and led the Red Devils to Europa League and EFL Cup glory in 2017 before results quickly fell away.
After leaving Old Trafford, the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss spent another turbulent spell at Tottenham Hotspur before being sacked in April 2021 after 17 months in charge.
Mourinho, 60, spent the last year at Roma and got his hands on another trophy last season – the Europa Conference League. Roma are currently fifth in Serie A and will face Feyenoord in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
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