Jose Mourinho

Sacking Jose Mourinho before Christmas cost Manchester United £19.6million, the Premier League club have revealed in their second-quarter financial results.

That sum, which is listed under "exceptional items" in the accounts, includes pay-outs for the five members of Mourinho's staff who left with him on December 18.

It is less than was reported in some quarters but four times the amount United had to pay predecessors David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal when they were fired in 2014 and 2016 respectively.

In the report, the club announced record revenues of £208.6million for the quarter, which translate into earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of £104.3million and an operating profit of £44million.

Paul Pogba's struggles at Manchester United were all the fault of Jose Mourinho, according to the midfielder's brother.

Mathias Pogba has lifted the lid on the relationship behind the scenes by claiming the former manager's ego dominated the dressing room.

"It was Mourinho who was the problem," Mathias Pogba told RMC Sport.

"Mourinho still wants to be the centre of attention. The problem was Mourinho, right down the line.

"In the locker room, outside the locker room...everything, I know my brother, and you tell him, 'Go. Go play ', the rest, he will do it.

"From what we see of Mourinho, he always wants to be the maestro, the centre of attention.

"(Paul) does not even calculate that aspect: you respect him, he will respect you, you trust him, he will produce big performances."

Manchester United's share price increased by nearly six per cent after Jose Mourinho was sacked as the club's manager.

The Portuguese's two-and-a-half-year reign came to an end on Tuesday morning, and share prices in Manchester United plc rose on the New York Stock Exchange later on in the day.

After closing at 17.30 US dollars (£13.65) on Monday, the share price steadily increased to 18.39 (£14.51).

The value of the shares have fluctuated during United's troubled campaign on the pitch, which sees the club sit sixth in the Premier League, 19 points behind leaders Liverpool.

It peaked at 27.20 dollars (£21.47) on August 27, but fell 22 per cent to 21.12 (£16.67) by October 1.

United's run of four games unbeaten in the league - from a 3-2 win over Newcastle to a 2-1 win against Bournemouth on November 3 - saw the share price rise before a further decline to a low of 17.25 dollars (£13.64) last week.