Mourinho asks for patience for new Manchester United signing

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has jumped to the defence of summer signing Victor Lindelof and insists he is happy with his new signing despite a disappointing pre-season tour.

The Red Devils shelled out in the region of £30m to sign Lindelof from Benfica at the start of the summer but the Sweden international endured a difficult tour of the United States.

Mourinho wants Lindelof to be the long-term partner for Eric Bailly at the heart of United’s defence but the Portuguese has asked supporters to give the 23-year-old more time as he settles into a new league.

“It is step by step [for Lindelof],” ESPN quote Mourinho as saying after United’s 3-0 win over Valerenga in Oslo on Sunday. “Benfica is a giant club. I always think players come from Benfica mentally ready.

“They are a big club and the responsibility to play for them makes players ready but the Portuguese league is different, different qualities. Benfica is one of the dominant teams, so he is used to playing with the ball rather than without it.

“He needs his time to develop. We are going to give him time. Such a young player needs time. Manchester United is a huge club, huge responsibility, [and the] Premier League is the same. Let’s give him time but happy with what he is doing step by step.”

Mourinho wanted to sign Lindelof in January but shelved the club’s interest until this summer. With Eric Bailly and Phil Jones suspended for the club’s next two European matches, Lindelof will almost certainly start against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup next week if fit.

In the Portuguese Liga NOS last season, Lindelof completed more passes in his own half of the pitch than any other player in the division (1168).