Mourinho starts clear-out at Man United

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho Action Images via Reuters

German World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger has become the highest-profile victim of Jose Mourinho’s ‘clear-out Thursday’ with a host of players told they can leave the club, either permanently or on loan.

Nine players trained with the Under 21s at Manchester United’s training base at Carrington rather than with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the rest of the first-team squad.

Those who will leave were personally told by Mourinho. It is unlikely any of the nine will be involved in United’s friendly against Galatasaray in Gothenburg today and there are some surprising names on the list of casualties as Mourinho whittles his squad down to the ideal number of 24.