Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at Pep Guardiola's mega spending at Manchester City.

Mourinho is clearly irked about his neighbour's £185m ­investment to land defenders Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, ­Danilo and Aymeric Laporte last year.

He said: “If I need a full-back and I was able to buy four, it would be easier. So, when I needed a full-back, when I wasn't happy with Luke Shaw's level, the easiest thing would have been to buy four new players.

“Some clubs can buy four full-backs. But we didn't buy a left-back for three years ­because we were wishing and ­working for Luke Shaw to be that left-back. But during that ­process, we played Matteo ­Darmian, we played Daley Blind, we played Ashley Young, we played Marcos Rojo.

“We didn't buy four ­replacements – and that is a big difference. It takes less time when you buy four full-backs. To buy four, you need good scouting – and you need money.

“But to make players well that takes more time."