Jose Mourinho: Manchester United didn't sign Javier Hernandez because of Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford

Jose Mourinho has insisted Manchester United do not need Javier Hernandez and he didn’t try and re-sign him prior to the Mexican’s move to West Ham United on Monday.

‘Chicharito’ completed a £16m return to the Premier League to become the highest-ever paid player at the Hammers two years after being sold to Bayer Leverkusen by Louis van Gaal for a mere £7.3m.

That is a decision that Mourinho has previously claimed he never would have made in allowing Hernandez’s exit if he had been in charge then but even so did not feel he needed to step in and bring the 29-year-old back to Old Trafford.

Hernandez makes his return to Old Trafford on the opening day of the season but Mourinho believes that, in Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford, United have more than enough quality up front.

“He left the club a few years ago, I'm not sure (if) it was his decision or the manager's but he's a good player, he's a player that will always score goals,” Mourinho said ahead of United’s friendly against Barcelona in Washington DC on Thursday.

“I would always welcome (him) in my squad because he doesn't need many minutes on the pitch to score but we move in another direction in a younger player in Lukaku and we have Rashford who can be a striker so we didn't feel that need.

“But no doubt from West Ham to get a player of his experience and quality is very good.”