Jose: I think Darmian will stay at United

The Italian full-back has enjoyed an extremely positive pre-season, playing in all six of United’s warm-up games, and put in a good performance as the Reds got the 2018/19 season off to a winning start against Leicester City last week.

The boss said last month that Matteo had expressed a desire to leave and he wouldn’t stand in his way if the club received the right offer.

However, speaking ahead of the Reds’ trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, Jose stated that he feels the experienced defender will stay at the club – which would please him greatly.

“I don’t think he’ll go,” the boss told reporters in his pre-match press conference at the Aon Training Complex. “He cannot have any bad feelings towards us because we opened the door for him, in case his desire was to go, but it looks like it's not going to end in a transfer and, for me, it is good news.”

Mourinho also spoke highly of what the versatile no.36, who signed from Italian side Torino in the summer of 2015, brings to the squad.

“For me, it’s good news that Matteo is staying. He’s always an option for us, he’s always a reliable player. We know that his performance level is one where we know that he always does a job for the team - right-back, left-back, starting, on the bench – he always does it.

“He's a fantastic professional. He's a guy that is loved in the group by his human nature too, so for me, in the end, it's good news if Matteo is not leaving.”

The boss confirmed that Antonio Valencia is back in training but is unlikely to be involved against Brighton, which means Darmian could continue at right-back at the Amex Stadium – with summer signing Diogo Dalot also still sidelined.