KEY POINTS

  • The 27-year-old Armenian is the third player to sign for the Red Devils since Mourinho's arrival.
  • Mkhitaryan has joined from Borussia Dortmund on a four-year deal, with the option of another year.

Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has revealed Jose Mourinho played a key role in his decision to move to Old Trafford. The 27-year-old midfielder has joined the Premier League club in a deal rumoured to be worth around £26m (33.5m) and has revealed the Portuguese boss was an influential figure behind his transfer.

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The Armenian is the third player to join United since Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal as the manager. After putting pen to paper on his four-year contract, which includes the option of a fifth year, Mkhitaryan revealed how much he is looking forward to playing under Mourinho in the Premier League.

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"I am very excited, it's a big opportunity for me to play for Manchester United. This is a new challenge for me and I will try to do my best," Mkhitaryan told United's in-house TV station MUTV.

As well as relishing the prospect of working with Mourinho, Mkhitaryan - who was among Borussia Dortmund's stand-out players last season - revealed his excitement at playing alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Asked how Mourinho influenced his decision, the new United signing said: "I think it was one of the factors that I chose Manchester United.

"But also the team, because it's one of the biggest clubs in the world, so I couldn't reject this offer. I'm very pleased to be here. I think this year the team will be amazing and it will be a pleasure for me to play next to these guys."

Meanwhile, Mkhitaryan also revealed he spoke to United youngster Adnan Januzaj about the club before joining the Red Devils, and he is looking forward to working with the Belgian again following Januzaj's loan spell at Dortmund last season.

"We were very close, he was one of my friends," Mkhitaryan said of the United youngster. "And even before coming here, I was always in touch with him. He was asking whether I was going to join or not. I said, 'I don't know', but finally I'm here and will have him as a friend and as a helper."

Premier League Premier League transfer window Jose Mourinho Louis van Gaal