Ed Woodward has last laugh after Man Utd transfer Jose Mourinho didn’t want

Ed Woodward and Jose Mourinho did not always see eye to eye over Manchester United transfers.

Executive vice-chairman Woodward has often come in for criticism for his record in the transfer market with reluctance to buy some of Mourinho’s targets.

The pair shared a rocky relationship before the Portuguese boss was sacked and replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in December 2018.

Woodward is alleged to have vetoed a list of targets put forward by Mourinho in the summer before his departure with a centre-back amongst his list of priorities.

Instead, the Red Devils made midfielder Fred their marquee summer signing in a £52million move from Shakhtar Donetsk.

It has previously been reported by The Athletic that Mourinho was never keen on the signing of Fred but agreed to the plan as he recognised the need for a new body in midfield.

Fred struggled in his first season under Mourinho then Solskjaer but has gradually become a key cog in the midfield that has the Red Devils top of the Premier League table.

In show of faith from Solskjaer, he was called upon with their FA Cup fourth round clash with Liverpool in the balance at 2-2 on Sunday.

Fred was introduced alongside Bruno Fernandes, who netted the winner as they claimed a 3-2 win and he is now very much an important part of the United side.

And whilst some of Woodward’s moves can be questioned, he has been proved right in the long run over the signing of Fred after his reported disagreement with Mourinho.

Woodward confirmed last year that there was a “difference of opinion” with Mourinho regarding some of their transfer targets.

Woodward told United We Stand: “It is true that there was a difference of opinion on one or two players between the manager and the recruitment department.

“Sometimes I have to be one who delivers the ‘no’, which isn’t easy, because our natural tendency is to back the manager in every possible circumstance, but we have to listen to the recruitment experts too.”

Was Ed Woodward right over the signing of Fred? Have your say here.

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