Ed in ‘frantic call’ to Jose agent – report

Sarah Winterburn

The English media’s campaign to get Jose Mourinho installed as Manchester United manager continues apace as The Sun claims Ed Woodward has called agent Jorge Mendes after rumours of an Inter Milan return.

They claimed on Friday that the former Chelsea manager is ‘fed up’ of waiting for United and suggested that ‘the prospect of seeing Mourinho slip through United’s fingers may prove the straw the breaks the camel’s back’.

Lo and behold, that report apparently did the trick and now The Sun are claiming that ‘Manchester United made a frantic call to Jose Mourinho’s agent over fears he was heading back to Inter Milan’.

But Mourinho insists he has no plans to return to the San Siro dugout, nor does he know exactly where he will take his next assignment.

Ahead of a personal trip to Milan to watch the Nerazzurri play Sampdoria on Saturday, he told La Stampa: “There is one thing I want to clarify – I will not be directing things over there next season. Inter already have a project that belongs to Roberto Mancini and (president) Erick Thohir.

“Their ideas have my full support and I hope their plans are successful. I want to see Inter fans smiling again and so I hope to witness a victory tomorrow.

“My next club? I really do not know, but one thing is certain – I love football and I will return with the same passion and ambition I’ve always had.

“Right now I have respect for every coach at every club. I’m not looking for a club, but there are clubs that are looking for me.”

Meanwhile, The Guardian claims that ‘Louis van Gaal has lost the confidence of a group of senior Manchester United players and José Mourinho is their preferred option as his replacement.

And the Daily Mail says ‘Louis van Gaal was clinging to his job as Manchester United manager on Friday night, spared only by the reluctance of Old Trafford chief Ed Woodward to admit his mistake and wield the axe’.