EXCLUSIVE: Jose Mourinho cancels role at star-studded charity match to focus on United

JOSE MOURINHO has had to cancel his appearance at a star-studded charity match - to manage his first game as Manchester United boss.

Jose MourinhoGETTY

Jose Mourinho is managing Manchester United on Saturday but is also supposed to be at a charity game

Mourinho was last week announced as one of the coaches set to take part in a charity match organised by Samuel Eto'o.

But the Portuguese boss met with a huge conflict of interests, as he is taking charge of United for the first time away at Wigan on the same day.

United begin their pre-season preparations against Wigan at the DW Stadium on Saturday, with the friendly kicking off at 1.30pm.

Mourinho was due in Turkey to play his part in Eto'o's charity match, set to start at 8pm - 6pm UK time.

But Express Sport understands Mourinho will no longer be attending.

United's match - which the club have been bigging up as the first with their new boss in charge - will only finish at around 3.15pm.

That gave Mourinho less than three hours to be in place at the Antalya Stadium in Antalya, south-west Turkey, where the charity game is being held.

However, the flight from Manchester to Antaylya is over four hours, leaving the Portuguese boss needing to be in two places at once.

But The Special One has put his club commitments first, letting down his former striker.

Mourinho was also due to manage at Soccer Aid, the UNICEF charity match held at Old Trafford in May.

The 53-year-old was named boss of the celebrity and legends England team to take on the Rest of the World.

But after being confirmed as United's next manager Mourinho handed duties over to assistant Sam Allardyce, preferring to watch on from the crowd.

Mourinho will be in the dugout at Wigan, with United expecting 7,000 away fans to make the short trip west.

MourinhoGETTY

Mourinho watched on from the stands instead of managing at Soccer Aid

"The first game against Wigan is very important as I am going to have some players I don't know very well who I am bringing into the first team," he said.

Mourinho was set to meet a host of former Chelsea players in Turkey, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Fundacion Privada Samuel Eto'o, the Cameroon legend's charitable foundation.

Chelsea star Eden Hazard and former Blues midfielder Michael Essien are due to take part, but like Mourinho Didier Drogba is set to pull out.

Eto'o, who played under Mourinho at Inter Milan and Chelsea, appeared to confirm his old boss' attendance on Instagram.

He posted: "etoocharitymatch#DiegoMaradona #FabioCapello #JoséMourinho and #ZangaDeri will be part of #EtooCharityMatch in #Antalya July16.

"#FPSE10thAnniversary #‎AntalyaArena #‎SamuelEtoo #‎FPSE #‎Celebration #‎Cameroon #‎Charity #‎Football #‎Match #‎Children."

Fabio Capello, Diego Maradona and Zenga Deri are the other coaches said to be involved.

The game, which will see a World Stars team taking on a Turkey Stars team, is also set to include the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Andres Iniesta, Francesco Totti, Xavi, Jay-Jay Okocha and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Brazil legend Ronaldo, Carles Puyol, Kolo Toure, Marcel Desailly, Arda Turan, Emmanuel Adebayor, Nwankwo Kanu, Deco and Javier Zanetti are also in line to feature. Diego Maradonna is another who may have to miss the event due to other commitments.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?