Mourinho wants to raid Real Madrid for World Cup winning midfielder

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Bengaluru, February 18: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly confirmed his interest in signing a new central midfielder in the summer with Michael Carrick expected to retire at the end of the season.

The Manchester United boss wants to raid his former club Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.

Reports claim that Mourinho is interested in both Toni Kroos and Luka Modric - both targets for the club in the past.

Mourinho has a monumental task in his hands to reamp his midfield in the summer with Marouane Fellaini also linked with an exit.

He said: "We need to sign a midfield player because we are going to lose Michael Carrick.

"Of course, we need balance in the team. I told you that one or two months ago when we were speaking about the market.

"When some of you keep saying that we are going to buy that striker, that winger, that left winger, that right winger, I told you two months ago."

"You can accuse me of many, many things, but you cannot say that I lied to you. When I don't want to say things, I don't say (them). But I don't take you in other directions.

"When I told you a couple of months ago that we don't want to sign any striker or any winger and, yes, we are looking, and we are going to try to sign a midfield player, I told you that two months ago."

Mourinho also added that the emergence of Scott McTominay in his matchday squads is proof that there are avenues to the first team for youth players at United which is a good sign.

"If, for you, promotion is that they train regularly with us, they have been promoted for a long time," Mourinho said when asked about the likes of Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes.

"Scott McTominay didn't arrive here from the moon. Before he came to the first-team he trained with us many times last season."