It won’t stop him trying, though.
As if swap deals on this scale ever happen (they really, really don’t), Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has demanded Toni Kroos in exchange for David de Gea should Real Madrid keep going back in for the United goalkeeper.
The German international has become one of the best central midfielders in the world since joining Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2014, and Mourinho has made no secret of his admiration for the 27-year-old.
Rumours linking De Gea with a return to Madrid – where he started his career with Atletico – have been commonplace since a move to the Bernabeu failed in the final hours of the 2015 summer transfer window due to an administrative error.
The fee agreed between the two clubs at that time was £29m but the 26-year-old ‘keeper would now cost at least double that amount, barring any unlikely swap involving Kroos.
The Mirror reports that Mourinho sees Kroos as the ideal midfield partner for Paul Pogba, who rejoined United in a world record deal from Juventus last year.
WATCH: Liverpool BOTTLED the title race 🤬 | Who will win the Premier League?
