The Manchester United board intervened and stopped Jose Mourinho pursuing the signing of Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng over the summer, according to the BBC.

The Red Devils failed to strengthen at the heart of their backline during the most recent transfer window, but were heavily linked with a move for the 30-year-old Bavarians star, who spent one season at Manchester City during the 2010-2011 campaign.

Reportedly, Mourinho has always been a big admirer of Boateng but Old Trafford hierarchy informed their boss to forget about chasing the centre-back.