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Man Utd transfer news: Jose Mourinho retaliates to board by using one star to get revenge
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho has blocked Marcos Rojo's departure as an act of revenge against the club's board, it has been claimed.
Mourinho: We haven't got enough new players for new season
Manchester United boss Mourinho was ready to sell Rojo with Everton linked with a summer swoop.
However, after the Toffees raided Barcelona and Chelsea for Yerry Mina and Kurt Zouma respectively, the Merseyside outfit cooled their interest.
Since then, Fenerbahce have appeared likely suitors for the Manchester United outcast who, despite signing a new deal back in March, has seen his form plummet over the last few months.
Yet Turkish newspaper Fanatik claim Mourinho has blocked Rojo's exit, as retaliation for the United board failing to sign the players he wanted.
It is an open secret that Mourinho was determined to add a defender to his ranks.
The Red Devils boss initially earmarked Toby Alderweireld as his preferred target, despite knowing Tottenham would be tricky negotiators.
When that move looked unlikely, United sounded out Leicester over a deal for Harry Maguire but the Foxes' £75million price tag scuppered any chances of a transfer.
Mina was linked before he joined Everton but his agent's demands saw him miss out on a move to Old Trafford.
And Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid players Jerome Boateng and Diego Godin ultimately chose to stay put.
Fanatik say Mourinho was initially happy to let Rojo go, with the board willing to sign off a deal.
But now, given their failure to secure him his preferred targets, the Argentina international will be staying put.
Rojo has changed his squad number from No 5 to No 16 for the campaign.
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And that seems to suggest United may end up signing a new centre-back when the transfer window reopens in January.
Rojo reportedly still wants to leave, along with Matteo Darmian.
But, with United unable to sign a replacement, the duo may have no choice but to sit tight.
Rojo has helped the club win the FA Cup, Europa League and EFL Cup during his four years in English football.