Mourinho: Causing a stir
Barcelona have dismissed claims that they sought to bring Jose Mourinho back to the club.
The Catalan giants have admitted holding discussions with their former coach, but have expressed their disappointment at claims made by the Portuguese suggesting that they had instigated the talks.
Mourinho had told a local radio station that the club invited him to a meeting in Lisbon concerning the previously vacant managerial post at Camp Nou.
He went on to brand Barca vice-president Marc Ingla ‘a liar’ for refuting the claims and is generally disappointed at the manner in which the situation has been handled.
However, the Primera Liga side insist that the newly-installed Internazionale boss is being economical with the truth and released the following statement in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
Candidate
It read: “FC Barcelona regrets the comments made by Jose Mourinho contained in the Portuguese press in which he discredits the club’s vice president, Marc Ingla, and insists that a meeting in Lisbon to discuss his sporting deals was called by initiative of the club.
“Mourinho has claimed that Marc Ingla lied in a radio interview last Tuesday, when he said it was the Portuguese manager who had offered himself as a candidate to coach the club’s football first team.
“FC Barcelona wish to make it clear that at no time did Marc Ingla make such a statement, as can be proved by a literal transcript of the interview.”
Closed
Barca have always insisted that Josep Guardiola was their first choice to replace the outgoing Frank Rijkaard, and insist that Mourinho was made aware of this.
“The Barca vice president confirmed the meeting, but made it clear that the first option for the position was Josep Guardiola,” the statement continued.
“As for the meeting with Jose Mourinho, Ingla replied that ‘when two parties speak, it is very hard to say what percentage of interest each one has.”‘
It concluded: “FC Barcelona is profoundly sorry to hear these statements, which disprove themselves, and considers the matter closed.”
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