PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Jose Mourinho has admitted that Manchester United have abandoned their interest in Gareth Bale by claiming the Welsh winger has no desire to leave Real Madrid.
Mourinho only last week described a move for Bale's Real teammate Cristiano Ronaldo as "mission impossible."
And when asked whether Bale was in the same category, Mourinho acknowledged that the former Tottenham player is no longer one of United's targets.
"The same [as Ronaldo]," Mourinho said. "You have contacts and feelings, you understand things, and it was clear that Bale likes Madrid, the challenge and situation.
"They are in a very good situation now and I never felt a desire for him to leave, so why waste time on it? No."
Mourinho, meanwhile, is still attempting to bolster his United squad having added just two players -- Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof -- since the end of last season.
Efforts are still being made to sign Chelsea's Nemanja Matic, Tottenham's Eric Dier and Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic, but Mourinho was reluctant talk specifically about players yet to sign for United.
"Names is difficult for me, the players belong to clubs and are in preseason," he said. "The managers and owners are not happy if players talk about them -- I'm the same.
"My plan for the evolution of the team, my second transfer window, was to get four players and get balance and make a better squad.
"But with the development of the market, I was getting the feedback from Mr Woodward and I repeat, the market is very difficult.
"If the club has no chance to give me the four players, I like my group and I go with them, but I still have the hope I can have a third player, and maybe a fourth."
Mourinho, speaking at a news conference in Palo Alto ahead of Sunday's International Champions Cup clash against Real Madrid in Santa Clara, also gave an update on United's injured players, who have travelled to the United States to continue their fitness work with the rest of the squad.
"They have no chance of being fit for the beginning of Premier League," Mourinho said. "[Luke] Shaw first, [Marcos] Rojo the last one. Ashley [Young] in between.
"Luke will be September, Young October, Marcos December or even January, but it is good to have them with us and the group.
"It is important to be with us and not in Manchester, working alone."