'I told Jose 'Lukaku's a big baby'
Steve Walsh has revealed he warned Jose Mourinho against signing Romelu Lukaku for Manchester United, descrbing the Belgium international as 'a big baby'.
Walsh, who as a scout at Leicester City was credited as having played a major part in their shock title success in 2017, worked under Mourinho at Chelsea during the Portuguese's first spell at the club.
He was director of football at Everton in 2017 when United came in for Lukaku, and has revealed he tried to persuade Mourinho that the striker did not possess the mentality for the dressing room of a top club.
Walsh also suggested that Paul Pogba's self-importance was another red flag against one of United's recent big-name signings.
'It is not about collecting players, it is about having a clear plan and a strategy of how you want to play,' Walsh told The Athletic.
'When Jose signed Romelu Lukaku from Everton, I remember saying to him, "You have to be careful with Lukaku. He is a big baby, you know".
'He said he could handle him. I don't think he really got Lukaku on-side mentally, which you have to do.
'That is the case with him and Paul Pogba. They aren't my type of players. They are more about themselves than the team. I wouldn't have touched them. Because they are good players doesn't mean you are going to get a good team out of it.'
Lukaku was sold by Manchester United last summer to Inter for a fee of £72million after just two seasons at the club, which saw him net 42 times in 96 games across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Pogba has been consistently linked with a move away from Old Trafford in recent months.
The France international told an adidas event last summer that he believes he is ready for a new challenge, away from the North West.
Source: Daily Mail UK
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