Marouane Fellaini reveals Manchester United made a big mistake over contract negotiations

Marouane Fellaini has revealed Manchester United are paying the price for not acting decisively enough during his protracted contract negotiations.

After a difficult start to his Old Trafford career, Fellaini has emerged as a trusted Jose Mourinho foot soldier and again emerged from substitutes bench on Sunday to score the winning goal against Arsenal.

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Despite having earned the full trust of Mourinho, the 30-year-old is yet to commit his future to the Premier League club and could walk away on a lucrative free transfer in the summer.

United have made a final offer in the region of £140,000-a-week but with the likes of Roma, Paris Saint-Germain and several Chinese Super League clubs in the running, Fellaini appears set to keep his options open.

Jose Mourinho on Marouane Fellaini

The position is that we are almost there but in football almost is not enough. We are almost there but I cant celebrate because almost is not enough.

I want to see the white paper with the Uniteds crest and Ed Woodwards signature and Marouanes signature.”

I think a player that grabs the crest after scoring is telling clearly that he wants to stay. I want him to stay, the club wants him to stay, I think he will stay, it is nearly there.

The entire staff is doing everything I can to stay, he told Sport magazine.

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Now I am in a strong position, especially since Mourinho has stated that he wants to keep me.

Last year I went to the coach and I said that I wanted a new contract. I then had a second meeting, but I will not ask it 10 times.

Afterwards I became important for the team and a good player costs at least 50 million euros.

The club knows that they went wrong there.

More: Manchester United FC

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