Jose Mourinho outlined the Tottenham Hotspur players he'd like to have signed for Manchester United shortly before he got the Old Trafford axe last year.
The former Chelsea and United boss was appointed as the new Spurs manager on a three-and-a-half year deal on Wednesday morning, replacing the sacked Mauricio Pochettino.
It is his first job since his departure from United in December last year, and in interview shortly before his departure he used Spurs as an example of a club who possess players clubs like United could no longer buy.
"Is Manchester United by history, by its dimensions, bigger than Tottenham ? With all the respect - Tottenham is an amazing club - I think everybody would say yes." he said, via the Daily Star.
"Can we go to Tottenham and buy their best players? No - because they don't sell or because they are so powerful that they can say no.
"A few years ago, who was Tottenham's best player? Michael Carrick (who joined United).
"A few years later, who was the best player? Berbatov (who also moved to Old Trafford).
"Can we go now there and bring Harry Kane, Dele Alli, [Christian] Eriksen, [Heung-min] Son? Can we go there and bring the guys here? No.
"So, who is more powerful now. Them or us?"
Mourinho claimed that the fact United couldn't sign Spurs players was evidence of a power shift in football.
"Football changes," he added. "It is more difficult to buy players of a high, high, high level.
"The clubs are more powerful and don't want to sell.
"Before, the smaller clubs, they were almost begging the big clubs, 'get my best player, I need to sell. Please, you are powerful, buy my best player'.
"At this moment, they don't want to sell.
"It is more difficult to make the team better and stronger with buying.
"Unless you do what some clubs do, and for some reason they can do and others cannot.
"Which is, I need a right back and a left back. Send away the ones you have and buy four at the same time.
"It is difficult, so we do what we can.”
