Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has given the strongest suggestion yet that Bastian Schweinsteiger could be on his way out of Old Trafford, ESPN FC reports.
The now retired Germany international’s future has been unclear for some time now, with many reports suggesting Paul Pogba’s impending arrival will signal the end of Schweinsteiger’s stay at Old Trafford.
But his United career now seems to be in serious jeopardy after Mourinho decided against taking the German to Gothenburg, where his side thumped Turkish giants Galatasaray 5-2, which means he has yet to feature for the Portuguese in pre-season.
It is understood that the former Real Madrid boss wants a small squad of just 24 players and those who are not in his thoughts will not play a “single minute” in any of United’s friendlies.
Mourinho, who was speaking to MUTV after the 5-2 victory, was typically blunt when questioned on whether the players who did play had done enough to convince him of their value.
The 53-year-old said: “Well, if they were not in my plans, I would not give them one single minute. I wouldn’t keep them in my squad.”
Adnan Januzaj was one of the senior players to be axed from the squad facing Galatasaray, but the Belgium international did make a brief appearance against Borussia Dortmund in the Red Devils’ second pre-season friendly.
Though it appears the 21-year-old will not be a permanent fixture in Mourinho’s starting eleven after his omission, Januzaj and other fringe players could play an important role should they “understand” the squad dynamics.
He added: “To be in the squad, you have to understand that the squad is more important than the individual, the club is more important than all of us.”
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