South African football icon and former Manchester United striker coach Benni McCarthy has broken his silence over links with a move back to Mzansi to link up with Mamelodi Sundowns, giving a big assurance to head coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
McCarthy became a free agent after parting ways with English Premier League giants Manchester United at the end of his contract in June.
Having confessed to being a lifelong Sundowns supporter and with the side having parted ways with head coach Rulani Mokwena at the end of last season, much to the shock of many at the time, it was not long until Bafana Bafana's all-time goal-scorer was tipped by multiple reports to be heading to Chloorkop.
READ | 'He has a big chance to go to AFCON with Bafana'
Ultimately, though, nothing materialized.
Instead, The Brazilians hierarchy appointed Manqoba Mngqithi as head coach, who would then recruit Romain Folz to serve as his right-hand man.
Now back on South African soil for the launch of the Carling Cup as one of the competition's ambassadors, the Hanover Park native has broken his silence regarding having apparently met the defending league champions' Sporting Director, Flemming Berg.
"Honestly, I haven't spoken to Sundowns," McCarthy told journalists.
"There have been rumours, but then rumours were also there when {Kaizer] Chiefs had no coach. They said, 'Man, (Benni) is coming to coach Chiefs'. No, rumours are just rumours, don't listen to the rumours.
"But now I have not spoken to Sundowns. There has been no dialogue between me and the crew. So, let's just get that out of the way."
The former FC Porto striker also assurance Mngqithi and his technical team that he is not after the 53-year-old's job.
ALSO READ | Barker on Pirates star: When he came on, my biggest fear was...
"And I think they've got coaches there with experience, so we have to give these coaches the respect they deserve and stop creating unnecessary pressure about me going there because those coaches have to do their job. They are top coaches, people that I respect a lot.
"So, I want them to work peacefully and do what they have to do," he explained further.