Marcel Desailly says Jose Mourinho has been targeting the Manchester United job since leaving Inter Milan.
Desailly was at a legends match with Mourinho ahead of the 66th Fifa Congress in Mexico in May and, speaking at a press event in Dublin on Wednesday, the former France and Chelsea defender said the Portuguese was planning for Old Trafford from at least 2010.
After leaving Inter, Mourinho joined Real Madrid, where he spent three years, before returning to Chelsea in 2013. He parted company with the Blues in December, before being appointed United boss in May.
"I was in Mexico with him at a FIFA conference,'' Desailly said. "Remember, when he left Inter Milan to go to Real Madrid [in 2010]?
"At the time, he said he would come back to England. But his plan was to go to Manchester United, not Chelsea.
"This was his main target. He respected the club. The worldwide exposure is through Manchester United.
"Now, he has got the key from them. The other one [Louis van Gaal] spent €200 million. He will spend another €250m, also. And he'll build up something good, I'm sure.
"He has some problems because he has Juan Mata, who he didn't want at Chelsea.
"I'm sure [Marouane] Fellaini won't be playing in midfield. He has a lot of things to work on."