Mourinho agent denies Manchester United letter

Though Mourinho immediately targeted United as his next job after leaving Chelsea, the 52-year-old was keen not to step on Van Gaal’s toes.

According to the report, Mourinho used the letter to pledge his commitment to adapting his style of management to the Manchester team.

There have been suggestions that Ryan Giggs could be appointed as Van Gaal’s successor at Old Trafford.

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”, he said.

Mourinho has been out of work since getting the sack at Chelsea in December following a disastrous defence of their Premier League title.

Jorge Mendes, the agent of José Mourinho, has branded a report claiming the Portuguese wrote to Manchester United regarding his credentials to be the next manager as “ridiculous and absurd”.

The Independent on Sunday also claims Mourinho offered a “forensic analysis” of the Old Trafford squad in what it called a “love letter” to the club.

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

Yet United’s recent poor results, not least the 1-0 home defeat by Southampton yesterday, have opened up the possibility that Van Gaal’s time is running out, so Mourinho’s representative Jorge Mendes contacted the United board to discuss the future.