Ed Woodward and Mourinho shake hands after Man Utd win
That is the view of former Tottenham, Newcastle and England midfielder Jermaine Jenas.
Manchester United made three signings in the transfer window, bringing Diogo Dalot, Fred and Lee Grant to Old Trafford.
Mourinho was desperate to sign a centre-back and told United his choices were Harry Maguire, Jerome Boateng, Toby Alderweireld and Diego Godin.
But United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward vetoed Mourinho's choices because the belief at board level was that those players were not significantly better than those already at the club.
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane was one player United would have moved for but the Champions League holders made clear the France World Cup winner was not for sale.
In the aftermath of the window closing, Mourinho vented his frustration and claimed his position at the club had changed from manager to head coach.
But Jenas believes Woodward was justified in his decision not to sign the players Mourinho wanted.
He told Express Sport: “I agree with Ed Woodward and Manchester United and their thought process.
Man Utd executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and manager Jose Mourinho have clashed (Image: GETTY)
“If you look at the players Mourinho was trying to get, there’s no money in them. There’s success but in terms of a formula as a business, there is not much money left in Toby Alderweireld.
“Especially when he’s going to be worth £25million in six months time.
“In Diego Godin, he’s 32. Harry Maguire was the only youngster that he half pursued where there was money in and I’m guessing they couldn’t get him out [of Leicester].
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Jermaine Jenas was speaking at the launch of the Premier League Interactive Watchface for TAG Heuer (Image: TAG Heuer)
“Thewarchestwas there [but] it was a type of player they were going for and it didn’t really fit the bill for Woodward.”
Jermaine Jenas was speaking at the launch of the Premier League Interactive Watchface for TAG Heuer Connected Modular owners and the extension of TAG Heuer’s partnership as Official Timekeeper of the Premier League.
The TAG Heuer Premier League watchface is available on Google Play for Connected watch owners to download for free.