Jose Mourinho's failure to nurture young players is the main reason why Manchester United don’t see the Portuguese as a potential successor to Louis van Gaal.

Powerful influences in the Old Trafford boardroom feel the Special One can’t be trusted to keep faith with the club’s long-standing philosophy of promoting homegrown talent from the Academy.

And the former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss Mourinho has resigned himself to the fact that United are sticking with a succession plan that will see Ryan Giggs eventually take over from Van Gaal.

And the Dutchman, who has been under intense criticism several times this season as his Reds have struggled, hinted on Saturday that he has already been told he WILL complete the final year of his contract next season.

Van Gaal said: “There are a lot of players coming to Manchester United next season because they know I give them a chance.”

United have a proud tradition of developing their own stars — there has been a homegrown player in every single match-day squad since October 1937.

Giggs himself came through the ranks to become the most decorated player in the club’s glorious history.

And legends such as Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Duncan Edwards are still revered by the Old Trafford fans.

Manchester-born Marcus Rashford is the latest starlet to burst through the system, scoring two goals in each of his first two senior games last week.

Mourinho, in contrast, has no pedigree when it comes to committing to youth.

The fact that he has not stayed in any of his seven managerial jobs for longer than three years is another reason why he isn’t seen as a good fit by those who roam the club’s corridors of power.

The fear is youngsters like Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Paddy McNair will see their pathway into the first team blocked if United opt for a Mourinho appointment to pacify some disgruntled fans.

Van Gaal revealed his record of giving young players their head was a key factor in him landing the United job in the first place in 2014.

He said: “We discussed young players in my interview.

“We had two conversations, first with Ed Woodward and later with the owners.

“They said what the culture of Manchester United is and why they wanted me. One of the reasons was that I give young players a chance, as we are seeing.

“When you have me as a manager, you have a lot of chances.”

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