The former Red Devils midfielder believes issues with Ed Woodard and the Glazers could force the Portuguese to quit his post in the near future
Jose Mourinho is looking “grumpy” and could walk out on Manchester United if he is denied the required level of support from chief executive Ed Woodward and the Glazers, says Paul Ince.
The Portuguese has cut a frustrated figure throughout pre-season after seeing his hands tied by issues outside of his control.
World Cup duty has left him without the services of a number of senior stars, while a lack of movement in the transfer market has the Red Devils boss playing catch-up on big-spending rivals.
Ince fears issues on and off the pitch could lead to a parting of ways if they are not ironed out, with Mourinho offering little at the moment to suggest that he is enjoying life at Old Trafford.
The former United midfielder told Paddy Power: “Jose has said that he wants to stay at United for life. To be fair, most managers would say that.
“But managers do get frustrated. They want to take the club forward, they want to build and bring players in. He sees Liverpool spending big and he wants to compete.
“If he feels he’s not getting that from Ed Woodward and the Glazers, he’s going to be grumpy.
“If Jose doesn’t get the tools he feels he needs to win this title, then there’s a real chance that he will just go.”
United are set to open the new Premier League season at home to Leicester on Friday, 24 hours after the close of the summer transfer window.
Ince fears the Red Devils are set to stumble their way into a campaign in which much is expected of them, with optimism and positivity in alarmingly short supply.
He added: “You don’t want to see all this negativity. It’s the start of the season, it’s supposed to be an exciting time.
“The fans want to see a different Manchester United, a more attacking one which we didn’t see last season.
“He [Mourinho] should be talking about the players coming to Old Trafford, how he’s changed the style and how it’s going to be exhilarating.
“But we’re less than a week away from the start of the season it’s doom and gloom. Bad signals are coming out of Manchester United, it’s not good and I just don’t see any positivity there.”