Henrikh Mkhitaryan is determined to prove himself to Jose Mourinho and will not leave Manchester United in January.
Reports on Tuesday suggested the Armenian, a £27million summer arrival from Borussia Dortmund, could be shipped out less than six months into his United career.
But it is understood such suggestions are wide of the mark with the 27-year-old intent on establishing himself as a key member of Mourinho’s first team despite being left out for the games against Liverpool, Fenerbahce and Chelsea last week.
Mourinho insisted last week Mkhitaryan “has to work more to get the intensity and fitness to play at a high level” and the former Dortmund playmaker told reporters in China during United’s pre-season tour he expected to be rotated due to Mourinho’s tactical tweaks, report the Manchester Evening News.
“It doesn’t matter if they buy me for, I don’t know, £38million or £40m, I am not guaranteed to play the games,” Mkhitaryan said.
“So I am trying to do my best during the training to earn this place to play and then we will see, because I don’t think I will play every game, depending on the tactical situation, depending on the opponent.
“But I will do everything to try and help the team.”
Earlier in the season Mourinho explained why Mkhitaryan was overlooked for the opening games against Leicester and Southampton: “Options. I went to the game against Leicester and I was reading the game and I thought we needed the speed of Jesse Lingard.
“And against Bournemouth, I thought they wanted to press really high, and a player like Mata coming inside could reach some spaces behind the lines of pressure and it could be very useful for us.
“And I decided to play Rooney both games in that position close to Zlatan and I didn’t start with Mikhi.
“But Mkhitaryan is a super football player and he will be given a lot of opportunities this season.”
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