Gentleman’s Agreement: Mourinho confident he will become Next Man United Manager [M.E.N]

Jose Mourinho believes he has a gentleman’s agreement with Ed Woodward to become the next Manchester United manager, according to Manchester Evening News.

On Saturday, Inter director Bedy Moratti accidentally let slip that “Jose Mourinho is happy, he’s going to Manchester United”. However, earlier today, Simon Mullock of the Mirror reported that Manchester United will continue with their long-term succession plan to replace Louis van Gaal with Ryan Giggs, because the United hierarchy believes that Mourinho isn’t the right man to take over the club.

And now, the latest bit of information from Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News suggests that a gentleman’s agreement between Mourinho and Woodward is already in place.

The Portuguese is yet to sign a pre-contract deal with Manchester United. However, M.E.N. Sport has stated that Mourinho already believes he will replace Louis van Gaal as Man United manager.

The former Chelsea manager’s agent Jorge Mendes would prefer if his client took over the Old Trafford job this season, but Ed Woodward remains resistant to sacking the Dutchman before the summer.

United great Sir Alex Ferguson appointed fellow countryman David Moyes as his successor over Mourinho back in 2013, and is still believed to prefer Ryan Giggs over Mourinho as Van Gaal’s replacement. However, Ferguson’s role on United’s football board is, as his fellow member David Gill clarified last month, ‘more of an ambassadorial role’.

Woodward contacted Mendes just hours after United’s humiliating Europa League defeat to Midtjylland on Friday to seek assurances that Mourinho’s stance on succeeding Van Gaal had not changed.

Mourinho was in Milan over the weekend, but clarified to the reporters that he would not be rejoining Internazionale, where he won the Champions League back in 2010.

“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,” Mourinho said.

“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.”