SEVILLA boss Julen Lopetegui has slammed rumours linking him with the Manchester United job as ‘absurd’.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s super-agent Jorge Mendes has touted Sevilla boss Lopetegui as the man to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But speaking in his press conference ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Wolfsburg, Lopetegui has rubbished reports.
The 55-year-old said: “No, please, just ask me about the chances of winning at Wolfsburg.
“The rest, with all due respect, seems absurd to me.”
United could reportedly move for Lopetegui if they are unable to convince Zinedine Zidane to replace Solskjaer.
Spaniard Lopetegui has helped Sevilla to currently sit third in La Liga, just two points behind leaders Real Madrid.
But the club are yet to win in four Champions League outings.
However in a low-scoring group they are just two points off second-placed Lille with two games remaining and can still qualify for the knockout stages.
Europa League experts Sevilla knocked Solskjaer’s Manchester United out of that tournament in 2019/20 as Lopetegui and Co went on to lift the trophy.
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Lopetegui has also previously coached Real Madrid and Porto.
He led the Spanish national team for two years but was dismissed on the eve of the 2018 World Cup after agreeing to join Los Blancos.
However he had an ill-fated spell in Madrid, lasting just 14 games before getting the sack and being replaced by fellow United target Zidane.
Elsewhere SunSport exclusively revealed that Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers is the No1 choice to replace Solskjaer at Old Trafford.
The ex-Liverpool manager has already been contacted by the club with United bigwigs prepared to pay the Foxes £8million in compensation.
That’s in addition to Solskjaer’s £7.5million payoff.
Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
