Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 7y

Mourinho responds to Conte with hair jibe, rules out Fellaini departure

OSLO, NORWAY -- Jose Mourinho has made a not-so-subtle dig at Chelsea boss Antonio Conte while responding to questions over the futures of Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini.

The Manchester United manager says he is "waiting for news" about Matic's imminent move to Old Trafford but insists Fellaini is not going anywhere this summer.

United are on the verge of sealing a £40 million move for Chelsea midfielder Matic after he underwent a medical at Carrington on Sunday.

Matic has been pictured wearing United's No. 31 training kit, which Mourinho cheekily acknowledged is "free" after Bastian Schweinsteiger's departure last season.

The deal is set to be announced in the next 24 hours and the Serbian could make his debut against Real Madrid in the Super Cup on Aug. 8.

"I am waiting for news," Mourinho told a news conference after a 3-0 friendly win over Valerenga in Oslo on Sunday.

"I know that he wants that very, very much. When a player wants very, very much, the chance is bigger.

"I think we have a chance but in football until it's official, I saw so many things happen that I refuse to say more than I am telling you now.

"No. 31 is a free number. We have a few free and 31 is one of them."

Fellaini got the opening goal in Norway despite claims from Galatasaray on Saturday they are "close" to signing the Belgian midfielder.

Mourinho, however, has insisted that even if Matic comes in, Fellaini will stay at Old Trafford next season.

He added: "It is easier for Galatasaray to get me than Marouane. Marouane forget it. He's very important for me."

Mourinho also refused to respond to comments from Conte that he is hoping to avoid a "Mourinho season" at Chelsea next year following their title triumph.

The United manager did refer to Conte's apparent hair transplant, before heaping praise on £75m striker Romelu Lukaku, who got his third goal in six preseason games during the victory at the Ullevaal Stadion.

Mourinho said: "I could answer in many different ways but I am not going to lose my hair to speak about Antonio's comments.

"It's nice [for Lukaku]. Strikers they like to score goals.

"It's not important for me but it's important for him, for his confidence, his self-esteem.

"We managers are many times happy with them even when they don't score because of the way they participate. For them, scoring goals is always important."

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