Football news - ‘Totally untrue’: Jorge Mendes releases statement denying Jose Mourinho exit reports

Jorge Mendes said in a statement that rumours of Mourinho leaving United were totally untrue.

“There have been more rumours of Jose Mourinho leaving Manchester United,” read the statement.

“Jose is very happy at the club and the club is very happy with him. He has a long-term contract with Manchester United and is fully committed to the club in building a solid winning project."

United’s title hopes have already all but gone and they lie eight points off the top four after 15 matches, having failed to win any of their last four domestic games, with the Portuguese manager's position coming under increasing scrutiny.

Reports late on Thursday indicated that the Old Trafford hierarchy were prepared to pay up to £40 million to bring Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino to the club, adding that Real Madrid were also interested in the services of the former Southampton manager.

And Mendes, whose public utterings are rare, took the surprising step to re-affirm both parties' commitment to the long-term contract the former Chelsea manager signed in January 2018 - a step the agency chief did not take when it was reported earlier in the season that Mourinho was definitely set to be sacked.