Mourinho love letter to Man Utd denied by Mendes

Mark Holmes
Jose Mourinho: Has not written to Manchester United, insists agent

Jose Mourinho: Has not written to Manchester United, insists agent

Jose Mourinho’s agent has described claims the Portuguese has written to Manchester United to state his case to become their next manager as “absolutely ridiculous and totally absurd”.

A report in the Independent on Sunday claims Mourinho had written a six-page letter outlining why he would be the right man to replace Louis van Gaal, as and when he leaves Old Trafford.

United declined to respond to the reports on Saturday night, but Jorge Mendes categorically denied them in a statement on Sunday morning.

He wrote on www.gestifute.com: “It does not occur to anyone that a coach like Jose Mourinho can write letters to clubs offering their services.

“It is absolutely ridiculous and totally absurd.”

Mourinho left Chelsea in December after a poor start to the season, despite his team winning the Premier League in the previous campaign.

According to the Independent report, Mourinho explains in the letter how he would be prepared to adapt his style of management to suit the demands at Old Trafford, and how he would seek to overhaul the squad.

The 52-year-old Portuguese’s fondness for United is well known and he has been linked with the job before, but United chose David Moyes to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 before Van Gaal to come in a year later.

As well as two spells at Chelsea, Mourinho has previously bossed Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

After he departed Chelsea before Christmas, Blues coach Steve Holland predicted Mourinho would want to soon be back involved in the game at the highest level.

”He’s a guy who needs and wants football,” said Holland. ”There will be clubs and big clubs who will want him.

”And he’s not in my opinion the sort of guy who’s going to spend six, seven, eight months sitting at home doing nothing in particular.”

Pressure mounted on Van Gaal after United’s 1-0 defeat to Southampton on Saturday, which left the Red Devils five points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham.