Luis Campos, 55, was Jose Mourinho’s chief scout at Real Madrid and he’s now revived Lille. When Jose was at United, Campos was linked [by Duncan Castles, Jose’s alleged mouthpiece] to the Director of Football role at Old Trafford as the only candidate Mourinho would’ve accepted. Ed Woodward refused to budge on this one, something that Campos doesn’t understand.
Campos tells Sky Sports: “I speak to Jose every week, sometimes every day, and I saw that Jose, in my opinion, had difficulties in Manchester because the club has another culture, which I respect of course. If the coach is alone heʼs an easy target and he needs help. Itʼs difficult to see this club in difficulty, but if this difficulty is arriving itʼs because you have one problem.
“Itʼs important to work together. Sporting with economy. If you donʼt put these things together I believe you are heading for disaster! I know very well the situation of United and other clubs – but, in my opinion, everybody needs a sporting director because the coach needs time to prepare for the next match. If a coach is alone it’s more difficult now.”
Campos, whose scoops are Kylian Mbappe, Nicolas Pepe, Benjamin Mendy, Fabinho, Bernardo Silva, and even Anthony Martial, can’t stress enough how crucial it is to have an intermediary between the board and the coach.
He adds: “A sporting director is very, very important. Of course I believe I could help Manchester United, but I respect the politics of the club. Itʼs very prestigious, very, very prestigious, but in modern football you need a sporting director. Before, the coach did everything, but now the information is arriving very fast. You need to know players in every part of the world.”
Just to prove the links with Mourinho’s United were likely true, Campos concludes: “Of course [I’d work under Jose]. Mourinho is like a brother to me. I know him very well and for a long time. He’s a wonderful person and the best coach in the world. So, of course, if he called me I would speak. In my opinion – football needs someone like Jose. I believe the next work of Jose will be his top work.”
