Jose Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has been spotted having dinner with his client and rumoured Manchester United target Fabinho, but he wasn’t negotiating a move to Old Trafford.
The Monaco defender-cum-midfielder is one of the four names remaining on Mourinho’s transfer wish list after he secured a deal for Benfica centre-back Victor Lindelof.
However, according to Spanish publication AS, Mendes and Fabinho were meeting Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Martin as they try to secure a switch to the Spanish capital.
The trio were seen at a popular restaurant in central Madrid on Tuesday night, fuelling rumours that the Brazilian could snub United in favour of working with Diego Simeone.
Fabinho previously lived in Madrid when he was on the books of Atletico’s rivals Real, though he only made one appearance for the club – ironically under then boss Mourinho.
The 23-year-old has since excelled at Monaco, who won the Ligue 1 title last season, and has been transformed from a marauding right-back into a dynamic central midfielder.
Atletico believe he could be the perfect player to fill the void left by Tiago Mendes, who retired at the end of the season and will now join Simeone’s backroom team.
Any move to Atletico would be dependent on Fabinho not playing until January, however, with the Liga club unable to register new players until the turn of the year due to their transfer ban.
Mourinho had been heavily linked with the Brazilian as he looks to bring in a sitting midfielder who can get the best out of record signing Paul Pogba.
In addition to the signing of Lindelof, Mourinho is expected to pursue deals for Fabinho, Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, Inter Milan’s electric winger Ivan Perisic and Torino frontman Andrea Belotti.
MORE : Manchester United set to target Chelsea ace Nemanja Matic after ruling out Fabinho transfer
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