Politics
Man Utd 2017-18 squad set for Serie A reunion next season with Roma-bound Jose Mourinho joining EIGHT ex-stars in Italy
MANCHESTER RE-UNITED has turned Italy’s top-flight into Serie Eight – with Jose Mourinho’s move to Roma next season topping off the 2017-18 flashback.
The former United and Chelsea boss will have plenty of frenemies close at hand after finding instant re-employment following his sacking by Tottenham.
Jose Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were at Man Utd in 2017-18, the striker having been their matchwinner in the previous season’s EFL Cup final[/caption]
Man Utd old boys Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have transformed their fortunes with Jose Mourinho’s upcoming new club Roma[/caption]
The Serie A a.k.a. The Man United 2017-2018 reunion
Z. Ibrahimovic C. Smalling A. Young M. Darmian H. Mkhitaryan A. Pereira R. Lukaku A. Sánchez J. Mourinho#MUFC pic.twitter.com/b8op57SlFM — Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) May 4, 2021
Inter Milan stars Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young, plus Roma pair Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, celebrate with Man Utd in September 2017[/caption]
In-form Roma duo Chris Smalling and especially Henrik Mkhitaryan might be wary of Mourinho‘s upcoming arrival, having struggled under the Special One at Old Trafford.
But four United old boys will be on a high – after clinching title glory with Inter Milan.
Free-scoring Romelu Lukaku leads that quartet, with bit-part roles for Ashley Young, Matteo Darmian and Alexis Sanchez completing the foursome.
But star billing to the eight goes to Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, still a strike menace aged 39 after returning to AC Milan from LA Galaxy last year.
Completing the list is the one man still officially a United player.
Brazil midfielder, Andreas Pereira, 25, is on loan at Lazio following temporary spells in Spain with Granada and Valencia.
The 25-year-old and Belgium superstar Lukaku, 27, are the only players aged under 31.
Mourinho’s United were runners-up to neighbours City in 2017-18, albeit 19 points drift, and lost the FA Cup final 1-0 to Chelsea.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Most read in Football
The ex-Real Madrid and Inter chief was then axed in December 2018 after just seven wins from the first 17 Prem games of that season.
But instead of a title push, Mourinho’s target at Roma will be Champions League spot.
Their current seventh position seems their best realistic ambition for this term.
Alexis Sanchez and Matteo Darmian are among eight of Man Utd’s 2017-18 squad now in Serie A, having done little to impress Jose Mourinho at the time[/caption]
