BARCELONA have dismissed claims that the club asked Jose Mourinho to be their new coach, and expressed their disappointment at the Inter Milan boss calling Barca vice-president Marc Ingla a liar.
Mourinho was left fuming on Thursday by comments which Ingla apparently made to Catalunya Radio claiming that the former Chelsea boss instigated a meeting with the club at which he offered to become their new coach.
According to reports, Ingla told Mourinho at the meetings that Pep Guardiola, who is now in charge of the club, was always the first choice to replace Frank Rijkaard.
The Portuguese coach angrily denied the claims in the Portuguese press on Thursday, revealing that he had met with Ingla and sporting director Txiki Begiristain in Lisbon but did so at their request.
However, in a bid to put an end to the situation Barcelona released an official statement on their website in which they denied that Ingla ever made the reported comments.
The statement read: "FC Barcelona regrets the comments made by Jose Mourinho contained in today's 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."
Despite denying having instigated the meeting, the club stressed that at all times during the meeting they were keen to make Mourinho aware that Pep Guardiola was always going to be the club's first choice to take over as head coach.
"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."
According to reports, Ingla told Mourinho at the meetings that Pep Guardiola, who is now in charge of the club, was always the first choice to replace Frank Rijkaard.
The Portuguese coach angrily denied the claims in the Portuguese press on Thursday, revealing that he had met with Ingla and sporting director Txiki Begiristain in Lisbon but did so at their request.
However, in a bid to put an end to the situation Barcelona released an official statement on their website in which they denied that Ingla ever made the reported comments.
The statement read: "FC Barcelona regrets the comments made by Jose Mourinho contained in today's 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."
Despite denying having instigated the meeting, the club stressed that at all times during the meeting they were keen to make Mourinho aware that Pep Guardiola was always going to be the club's first choice to take over as head coach.
"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."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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