Jose Mourinho must be feeling just a little bit silly at the moment.
While his Manchester United side are currently second in the Premier League, and he enjoyed relative success with the Red Devils last year – old mistakes are coming back to haunt him.
The former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager has an unwanted record of letting young talent slip through his fingers, nowhere more so than at his time at Stamford Bridge where he displayed a well documented refusal to trust in youth players.
Had he known quite what those players would become however, Mourinho might have had second thoughts.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah have been the two outstanding players this season, with both already being hotly tipped to scoop the PFA Player of the Year award.
De Bruyne has been the enigmatic engine room for City’s unstoppable march towards the Premier League title and is the league’s top assist provider with 14. Salah on the other hand has proved an unstoppable scoring machine – the new King of Egypt has knocked a sensational 30 goals already this season as Liverpool look to secure top four football and make their mark in Europe.
What do both have in common? The dazzling duo were both let go by Jose Mourinho during his time at Chelsea.
Jose might be kicking himself, but the City and Liverpool fans seem not to care too much …
https://twitter.com/PogbesqueV3/status/962737719859449856
Look at a player like De Bruyne, a midfielder who thrives in the system his manager devised for his players. And then look at Pogba and Mourinho.
— Elko Born (@Elko_B) February 16, 2018
Mo Salah is pushing Kevin de Bruyne very close as the greatest player Mourinho let go.
There’s something I never thought I’d say.
The man’s incredible— James Robson (@jamesalanrobson) February 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/MCFC_HQ1/status/964121020595568640
Kevin De Bruyne is beyond World Class. Absolute perfection of a pass. Imagine if José Mourinho had him in one of his teams……Oh he did and shipped him out 💀
— JOEL ROSS (@joelrossradio) February 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/KingAbsolute_/status/963883368290103298
https://twitter.com/Sennesation/status/962655187071569921
Reminder that Jose Mourinho sold Kevin de Bruyne to play Oscar Emboaba instead. He now plays in China while de Bruyne plays for the runaway premier league leaders.
— Ben (@CriminalCosta) February 10, 2018
De Bruyne left Mourinho became a great player, Salah. Dito. Lukaku left Mourinho goals galore, rejoins Mourinho ends up a donkey, Pogba left united, became one of the most sort after players in the world, rejoined under Mourinho and can't handle John jo shelvey. #TheDownGrading1
— Ryan (@ryanl2801) February 11, 2018
Our club is bigger than one player but Mourinho needs to learn how to deal with creative players. He has a poor record with Ronaldo, Hazard, Robben, De Bruyne and more. It is his job to get the best out of Pogba
— Man Utd News (@News_ManUtd) February 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/wes_j_p/status/964475716736864256