Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was furious with Real Madrid players snubbing Michael Essien's birthday during his time in charge.

In the new book, 'Jose Mourinho: Up Close And Personal', being serialised in the Daily Mail, Rob Beasley writes: "He said it was a political club full of warring factions and told me a story to illustrate the point perfectly.

"It had been Real midfielder Michael Essien's 30th birthday party and the on-loan Chelsea star had invited all his Madrid colleagues to his bash. Only a handful turned up and it was left to Mourinho to console his upset player.

"He told Essien it was nothing personal; it was not even that his team-mates did not like him and, sadly, it was not because they had anything better to do. Mourinho said it was simply because they were more interested in themselves and not others."