Jose Mourinho: 'I don't see signing Pedro as a win over Manchester United'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 21 August 2015

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says that beating Manchester United to Pedro's signature should not be seen as a victory over their rivals.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that snatching Pedro from Manchester United's clutches should not be seen as a victory over their rivals.

The Spanish winger was believed to be closing in on a move to Old Trafford, but the transfer story took a dramatic turn on Thursday.

The 28-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Barcelona, left his boyhood club to sign for Chelsea in a reported £21.4m deal.

In today's press conference, when asked if he saw Pedro's arrival as getting one over on United, Mourinho told reporters: "I only want to beat Man United on the pitch if it's possible. I don't even want to go in that direction. Our job here is not to try to get a player that another club wants, our job is to get players that I think are good for us.

"Sometimes players are not successful - obviously we are the ones to blame for that, but the market is an opportunity window where you have to be careful not to lose your best players. It's an opportunity window to sometimes get players that you are not expected to get. The point is that Pedro is a player that we like a lot and we are happy to have."

Pedro could make his debut in Sunday's trip to play West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.