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10th Jun 2016

Jose Mourinho showed a real touch of class to a Manchester United youngster ahead of Euro 2016

Fair play

Robert Redmond

A touch of class from Jose Mourinho isn’t something you come across too often.

The new Manchester United manager signed Eric Bailly for £30m earlier this week, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic also looks set to join the club, but Mourinho has proved he still has time for the players on the fringes of his new squad.

Paddy McNair, currently on international duty with Northern Ireland, has featured less than 30 times in the United first-team, but Mourinho text him ahead of Euro 2016 to wish him luck.

Northern Ireland v Belarus - International Friendly

“He sent me a text message wishing me good luck for the tournament – that was nice of him,” the 21-year-old defender said.

“I’m sure he’ll be watching and I’ll be trying my best and hopefully he likes what he sees.”

McNair also revealed that former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also wished him luck for Euro 2016.

“After the FA Cup final I was getting in the lift and he wished me good luck for the tournament and said he’d be there watching.”

Having made his first team debut for United in the 2014/15 campaign under Louis van Gaal, McNair failed to make as many appearances during last season, prompting some to suggest he will leave the club, possibly on loan, when Mourinho begins work at the club.

By the sounds of things, Euro 2016 is the perfect platform to impress his new manager.