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Manchester United Jose Mourinho wants Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay

Old Trafford giants will go head-to-head with Italian side Inter for defender former Chelsea manager sold while at Real Madri

Ezequiel Garay FC Zenit Saint Petersburg

Jose Mourinho is reportedly interested in signing a player he once sold from Real Madrid.

Manchester United are looking at Zenit St Petersburg centre-back Ezequiel Garay — but will face serious competition from Inter Milan.

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JULY 19: Ezequiel Garay of FC Zenit St. Petersburg during the Russian Football League match between FC Zenit St. Petersburg and FC Dinamo Moscow at the Petrovsky stadium on July 19, 2015 in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Epsilon/Getty Images)
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Manchester United and Inter Milan want Zenit St Petersburg's Ezequiel GarayCredit: Getty Images

The Argentinian defender has been frequently linked with a move to Old Trafford since his Benfica.

And claim Mourinho is monitoring the player, who could be available for around £15million.

Italian giants, Inter, are also interested in Garay, according to , but cannot compete with United financially.

LISBON, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 16: SL BenficaÕs forward from Mexico Raul Jimenez with FC ZenitÕs defender from Argentina Ezequiel Garay in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg match between SL Benfica and FC Zenit at Estadio da Luz on February 16, 2016 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
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Ezequiel Garay in action for Zenit St Petersburg against former club, BenficaCredit: Getty Images
epa04300821 Ezequiel Garay of Argentina (R) and Belgium's Divock Origi (L) chase the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2014 quarter final match between Argentina and Belgium at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil, 05 July 2014. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: Editorial Use Only, not used in association with any commercial entity - Images must not be used in any form of alert service or push service of any kind including via mobile alert services, downloads to mobile devices or MMS messaging - Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage - No alteration is made to, and no text or image is superimposed over, any published image which: (a) intentionally obscures or removes a sponsor identification image; or (b) adds or overlays the commercial identification of any third party which is not officially associated with the FIFA World Cup) EPA/Felipe Trueba EDITORIAL USE ONLY
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Ezequiel Garay in action for Argentina against Belgium at 2014 World CupCredit: EFE

Mourinho has already brought a central defender to Old Trafford in the form of Ivorian, Eric Bailly, but is keen to reinforce is backline.

And he appears to have changed his view on a player he once deemed not good enough for Real Madrid.

Inter’s financial frailty means they would need to sell first-choice defender, Jeison Murillo, in order to afford Garay, but would only let the Colombian — who has also been linked with United — go for a similar price to the Argentine.

Argentina's national team (back L-R) Argentina's defender Marcos Rojo, Argentina's defender Martin Demichelis, Argentina's defender Ezequiel Garay, Argentina's goalkeeper Sergio Romero and Argentina's midfielder Javier Mascherano (front L-R) Argentina's forward Gonzalo Higuain, Argentina's midfielder Enzo Perez, Argentina's forward and captain Lionel Messi, Argentina's midfielder Lucas Biglia, Argentina's defender Pablo Zabaleta and Argentina's forward Ezequiel Lavezzi pose for a team prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final football match between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 13, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATAJUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images
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Ezequiel Garay (No.2) started for Argentina in the 2014 World Cup finalCredit: Getty Images
Real Madrid's Argentinian defender Ezequiel Garay (L) vies with Valencia's Portuguese defender Ricardo Costa (R) during the Spanish league football match Valencia CF vs Real Madrid on April 23,2011 at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia. AFP PHOTO/ PEDRO ARMESTRE (Photo credit should read PEDRO ARMESTRE/AFP/Getty Images)
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Ezequiel Garay in action for Real Madrid against Valencia back in 2011Credit: Getty Images

Garay, 29, shot to prominence when he moved to Real Madrid in 2008.

However, he found himself fourth-choice centre-back under Mourinho and was sold to Benfica in 2011 for a meagre £4m.

Garay won the league title and was a Europa League runner up twice during his three seasons in Lisbon.

He was constantly linked with moves to some of the continent’s biggest clubs — including United — but eventually joined Zenit in 2014.

Garay carried on his impressive displays in Russia, winning league title and domestic cup.

He has won 32 Argentina caps and was selected in 2014 World Cup squad — starting the final defeat against Germany.

Garay was also part of his country’s Olympic gold medal-winning team of 2008.

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