‘Ridiculous and totally absurd’ that Jose Mourinho would write letter to Manchester United

After news leaked of a report stating Jose Mourinho had written a letter to Manchester United pitching himself as their new manager, his agent Jorge Mendes ridiculed it on Saturday night.

A general view of Old Trafford on Saturday before Manchester United played Southampton in the Premier League. Michael Steele / Getty Images / January 23, 2016

Press Association with agencies

Jan 24, 2016

Agent Jorge Mendes has denied a report saying Jose Mourinho wrote a letter to Manchester United to pitch himself for their manager job.

It was reported on Saturday night he had written to Manchester United to state his case to become the club's next manager, according to the Sunday edition of the Independent.

The newspaper stated that former Chelsea manager Mourinho had sent United a six-page letter in which he outlines why he would be a suitable fit for the position, which is currently occupied by under-pressure Dutchman Louis van Gaal.

United declined to comment on the report when contacted by Press Association Sport.

Mendes, however, issued a statement on the Gestifute agency's website later saying the report was "absolutely ridiculous and totally absurd".

“It does not occur to anyone that a coach like Jose Mourinho can write letters to clubs offering their services.”

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 Alex Ferguson in 2013 and Van Gaal to come in a year later.

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

After he departed Chelsea before Christmas, assistant 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,” Holland said. “ 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 Old Trafford side five points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

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