Kroos and Bale the failed signings that upset Mourinho

Posted Wednesday, August 01, 2018 by Marca.com

Real Madrid's pre-season friendly with Manchester United on Tuesday night brought back some bad memories for Jose Mourinho, who came face to face with two of the players he wanted to sign this summer.

Gareth Bale and Toni Kroos were among the requests the Red Devils coach made to his board with the aim of boosting his side from Premier League runners-up to potential treble winners.

And yet, Real gave a stern 'no' to the proposition of either leaving when taking calls from Old Trafford ahead of the new season.

It seemed relatively recently that Bale was due for a fresh challenge having fallen out of favour with Zinedine Zidane, but his incredible showing in the Champions League final has since combined with the Frenchman's exit, and Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Juventus, to create a new opportunity for leading the team.

Another player who is set to be integral under Julen Lopetegui is German midfielder Kroos. Joining in 2014 from Bayern Munich, he remains a key starter and is a fan favourite at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Such a reality is of great consternation to Mourinho, who remarked that he had 'asked for five players, and none have arrived' in the build-up to facing Los Blancos in Miami.