Manchester United star Alexis Sanchez had a private wager with team-mate Marcos Rojo that Jose Mourinho would be sacked at Old Trafford, according to reports.
While United’s lowly league position was the driving factor behind Mourinho’s dismissal, the deterioration of his relationship with the squad was considered another major problem. Mourinho fell out with a string of high profile players – including Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly – and he demoted Alexis Sanchez to the bench in his final weeks in charge.
Sanchez posted a number of social media updates on Wednesday but failed to copy a number of his team-mates in sending a message to Mourinho after his sacking. The forward turned 30 on Tuesday but is not expected to be fit until January. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been placed in caretaker charge of the Red Devils but will not be able to count on Romelu Lukaku against Cardiff on Saturday after he was granted compassionate leave.