Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho insists the decision to sell Mohamed Salah at Chelsea was made over his head.

The Liverpool star left Stamford Bridge under Mourinho's reign after a failed two-year spell.

But Mourinho told ESPN Brasil: "People say that I was the one that sold Salah and it is the opposite.

"I was the one that bought Salah. I was the one that told Chelsea to buy Salah.

"But he came as a young kid, physically he was not ready, mentally he was not ready, socially and culturally he was lost and everything was tough for him.

"We decided to put him on loan and he asked for that as well.

"Chelsea decided to sell him, OK?

"And when they say that I was the one that sold him it is a lie.

"I agreed to send him on loan, I thought it was necessary, I thought that Chelsea had wingers.

"Some of them are still there like Willian, [Eden] Hazard and all those players already in a different level."

Mourinho added: "But effectively I did buy Salah, I didn't sell Salah, but it doesn't matter.

"What matters is that he is a fantastic player, and I am really happy for everything that is happening for him and especially because he scores against everyone and he didn't score against us in two games."