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Manchester United news: Bastian Schweinsteiger warned to 'stop watching his wife play tennis' by team-mates

The 32-year-old was pictured on several occasions offering support to now-wife Ana Ivanovic

Thursday 25 August 2016 10:20 BST

Bastian Schweinsteiger has been told he can leave Manchester United (Getty)

Manchester United players reportedly warned Bastian Schweinsteiger to stop watching his wife play tennis and train while the German returned from injury last season.

The 32-year-old was pictured on several occasions offering moral support to now-wife Ana Ivanovic while his team-mates laboured to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League under former manager and close-ally Louis van Gaal.

Schweinsteiger’s future at Old Trafford was already being called into question before Van Gaal was unceremoniously sacked days after the FA Cup triumph in May before new manager Jose Mourinho decided to cut the former Bayern Munich midfielder adrift.

According to the Daily Mail, several United regulars reacted “furiously” to Schweinsteiger’s globe-trotting habits and addressed him directly, telling the retired Germany international to return to England and set an example to the club’s younger players.

Schweinsteiger was pictured following Serbian star Ivanovic, 28, in Miami and Madrid as United struggled to secure Champions League football, a feat which ultimately proved to be beyond Van Gaal’s men last season.

The Kolbermoor-born midfielder released a statement yesterday (Wednesday) revealing that he has no intention of joining another club in Europe if indeed he is forced out of Old Trafford by Mourinho.

Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

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1/11Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

David De Gea

Has been Manchester United’s best player for the last four or five seasons and, after having a move to Real Madrid collapse last summer he is now more important than ever. He saved United repeatedly under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal and will hope under Jose Mourinho that there is less to do.

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Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Matteo Darmian

A good player whose first season at Old Trafford was badly affected by injuries, Darmian should improve next year under the guidance of Mourinho. He has played for a similarly prescriptive coach for Italy in Antonio Conte and will provide exactly what Mourinho wants in the role.

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Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Chris Smalling

One of United’s most improved players under Louis van Gaal, he established a leadership and consistency that he had lacked before. Now he is near the peak of his powers and gives Mourinho someone to build around at the back.

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Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Eric Bailly

The first of Mourinho’s summer signings, the £30million man from Villarreal has looked good in pre-season already. Will need to adjust to the speed of the Premier League but looks well equipped to do that and form a strong pairing with Smalling.

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Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Luke Shaw

Had his last season ruined by a broken leg against PSV Eindhoven and without him United lacked pace and width down the left. Mourinho will like his competitive attitude and Shaw will surely feature in Sam Allardyce’s England squads soon enough.

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Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Morgan Schneiderlin

Mourinho teams always have a midfield anchor, what he calls a ‘number 6’, and there is no-one better suited to the job at United now than Schneiderlin. Did not play as much as he should have done last year but that should change now.

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Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba

The big issue for Mourinho will be where to fit in the £100million man. There will be times when he plays alongside Schneiderlin in a 4-2-3-1, when United can afford to attack more, and others where he is pushed further up with two midfielders behind him. Finding the perfect platform will be Mourinho’s hardest task.

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Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Not the highest profile summer signing at Old Trafford but a technical wizard who excelled in his three seasons at Borussia Dortmund, which is why Arsenal wanted him too. Likelier to be on the right of a 4-2-3-1, where he will provide creativity and intelligence.

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Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Wayne Rooney

Mourinho said very clearly that Rooney will not play in midfield this season for United, so he will have to partner with Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front. Rooney will likely start as a second striker or number 10, but has a job to prove that he is still sharp enough for the job.

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Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Anthony Martial

Never looked weighed down by his fee last season and showed pace, class and natural calm in front of goal. Likely to continue on the left this season where he will provide pace on the break, as long as he does the defending Mourinho demands too.

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Manchester United's best XI with Paul Pogba

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

One final challenge for the big Swede who has won the league everywhere else he has played. Still has incredible strength and skill, even if he will be one of the slower strikers at the top this year. Just needs to find a way to be a focal point for his team-mates.

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“MUFC will be my last club in Europe. I respect other clubs, but Manchester United was the only one which could make me leave Bayern Munich. I will be ready, if the team needs me,” he said in a post on social media.

“This is all I can say about my current situation. I want to thank the fans for their amazing support over the recent weeks.”

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