Anderlecht playmaker Youri Tielemans has denied that he received a call from Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho.
Despite only turning 19 in May, Tielemans is entering his fourth season as a regular starter in Anderlecht’s midfield.
The Belgium under-21 international has often been tipped for a big-money transfer but on Wednesday, ahead of his club’s Europa League tie against Slavia Prague, he dismissed a claim that he had already had a conversation with the new United boss.
“I have never been in contact with Jose Mourinho,” Tielemans said on Anderlecht’s official website. “Whoever maintains the opposite is lying.
“I have deep respect for Mr Mourinho and for numerous other managers but he has never contacted me yet. I’m concentrating on my career and the important match tomorrow night.”
Tielemans was reacting to comments attributed to Wisla Pulawy player Lukasz Plonowski, who reportedly said that his former Anderlecht teammate had told him that Mourinho had been in touch.
Plonowski was quoted as telling Polish publication Weszlo: “Youri called me up recently and said, ‘Lukasz, do you know who called me? Mourinho. He asked how I’d take the possibility of moving to Manchester United.'”
Twice voted the Belgian league’s Young Player of the Year, Tielemans signed a new five-year deal with Anderlecht in May 2015.
He had a mixed campaign last season but still scored six league goals for the second year running.
Tielemans, who has regularly been linked with Atletico Madrid, scored in Anderlecht’s Champions League qualifier against Russian side Rostov last month.
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