Neymar €222m deal not expensive, says Mourinho

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said Wednesday he does not believe the record- shattering 222 million euro ($ 260 million ) transfer fee Paris St Germain are willing to pay for Neymar is expensive .

But the Reds boss , speaking after his side beat Sampdoria 2 - 1 in Dublin in a pre - season friendly, is concerned how the staggering figure will affect future transfers .

Mourinho shelled out 105 . 2 million euros ($ 111 million ) last summer to re- sign their former midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus , but the French outfit are poised to double that record to tempt the Brazilian from Barcelona .

“When we signed Paul Pogba , I said he was not expensive, ” Mourinho said.

READ: Messi bids farewell to Neymar on Instagram
“Expensive are the ones that get to a certain level without a certain quality . I don ’t think £ 200 million for Neymar is expensive .

“Expensive is the fact there will now be more players at £ 100 m , more players at £ 50 m , more players at £ 60 m — that ’s the problem .

“Neymar is one of the best players in the world, so commercially that is very strong but the problem is not Neymar — the problem is the consequences . ”
Mourinho was speaking after a late Juan Mata goal gave his United team victory in their final pre - season game , after a Dennis Praet strike had cancelled out Henrikh Mkhitaryan’ s first half goal.
The win puts United in a confident mood ahead of next Tuesday ’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Real Madrid in Macedonia.

Mourinho revealed the club are likely to appeal the two- game European ban handed to Phil Jones after verbally abusing anti - doping officials after the Europa League final win in May.

“Put yourself in his position . He wins a European cup and wants to celebrate with his team ,” Mourinho said.

“He wants to get the cup , the medal and be in the pictures but one doctor wants to close him in a small room because of the doping control .

“It’ s very hard to control a player in this situation and UEFA should consider this . It ’s not a normal match — it’ s a cup , a medal, a celebration . It ’s everything .

“There was no wrongdoing in his behaviour , just a human desire to celebrate . I feel really sorry for him and I don ’t think it’s fair .

“I would (appeal) if I was him. If you do that you have the risk of even more punishment but it’s a decision I will leave with him . ”

AFP