Twenty minutes. That is all it took former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho to fall foul of a referee in his new Turkish home.
Shortly before veteran striker Edin Dzeko found the net – the only goal of the game during the nerve-shredding 1-0 win over Adana Demirspor – the newly-appointed Fenerbahce coach did what he has done throughout his storied managerial career and aimed a frenzied tirade in the direction of a poor fourth official.
Jose Mourinho’s mood would be lifted, however, with former Manchester City, Roma and Inter Milan poacher Dzeko proving that his instincts remain as sharp as ever even at the ripe old age of 38.
Alongside Dusan Tadic, Allan Saint-Maximin, Caglar Soyuncu, Cenk Tosun, Cengiz Under and one-time Manchester United midfielder Fred, Dzeko is one of a host of former Premier League stars currently plying their trade in those yellow and black stripes.
A fitting colour scheme for the always-waspish Mourinho, who typically did not hold back in his post-match press conference.
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Manchester United like Ferdi Kadioglu of Fenerbahce
While hitting out at the Lille president ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier and claiming that he is already being unfairly punished by the Turkish officials, Mourinho also spoke out about the future of one Ferdi Kadioglu.
According to reporter Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Man United opened talks with the ‘extraordinary’ Kadioglu’s camp last week.
Their interest is turning ‘serious’ too. The £17 million-rated left-back emerging as an option to reinforce that problematic position in the final few weeks of the window.
“My opinion is that there is a lot of talk about everything,” Mourinho tells BeIN Sports. “If you get too caught up in these rumours, it will cause you trouble.”
The much-decorated tactician has made no secret of the fact that, if Fenerbahce are serious about seizing the title from rivals Galatasaray, ambition must be shown both with signing new players and keeping their best ones.
Kadioglu certainly falls into the latter camp.
“Teams that want to achieve something should develop their squads and not lose their best players,” adds Mourinho. “I want Ferdi to stay, but it is a matter above me.
“He is a great professional and a very good kid. He is training very well. I hope he stays in the team.”
Noussair Mazraoui deal agreed with Bayern Munich
It remains to be seen, however, if Man United’s impending swoop for Noussair Mazraoui brings an early end to their Kadioglu chase.
The latter, like the former, is another highly-technical, highly-creative right-footed full-back who is equally comfortable on the left-hand side.
Kadioglu was one of the breakout stars of this summer’s European Championships – a free-flowing Turkey side reaching the quarter-finals – but there may not be room for both he and Mazraoui at the Old Trafford inn.
“Manchester United met with Ferdi Kadioglu’s representative and asked about the contract terms he would demand from them in case of an agreement with Fenerbahce,” Sabuncuoglu wrote on X, shortly after telling Sport Digitale that the Red Devils’ interest was becoming ‘serious’.
“If Fenerbahce accepts the offer, Ferdi Kadıogu wants to continue his career in the Premier League. The player is open to offers from England.”
There is also interest from Brighton and Hove Albion in the Dutch-born flyer. Borussia Dortmund have been linked too.
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