Per Mertesacker has revealed that he would have joined Manchester United if he’d been in the same situation as Bastian Schweinsteiger, but admits he feels ‘sorry’ at what has happened to the player under Jose Mourinho.

The 32-year-old midfielder has not played a single minute this season since Jose Mourinho took charge. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he was reportedly ‘exiled’ for the first two months as Mourinho looked to do what he often does when arriving at a new club – show he has the swingiest dick – by sidelining a popular player.

He did not even feature in the United team photograph.

Mertesacker said about the situation, “I also did not know Manchester United well enough to give advice [to BS]. 

“I only know that I would have done it in his situation. One hundred percent! 

“It was very much for the step: to gain new experiences after such a long time at Bayern Munich – plus the opportunity to play for Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in international football, as well as the fact that Louis van Gaal built on him and gave him confidence. 

“But then van Gaal is gone, so fast it changes in our business. 

“That Basti does not play with Jose Mourinho, I’m very sorry. 

“He deserved to be able to prove himself again. And I have the feeling that the team could use it.”

While most will admit that Schweinsteiger was far from his best when he arrived at Manchester United, given how much they have struggled this season, they certainly could have used someone with his experience in the middle of the park trying to sort stuff out as Jose had meltdown after meltdown on the sidelines.

Then again, what do I know, eh?