"?Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has decided to pull out of his first match in charge at Old Trafford this weekend, having long ago been lined up to lead the England XI at this year's Soccer Aid event at his new club's home.
According to a report by The Sun, the United boss will no longer be involved in the game as he looks to prioritise getting to work in his new role, although he will still lead a special training event due to be held on Thursday and Friday.
Given the huge anticipation following confirmation of his arrival at United last week, it is said that Mourinho is also keen for his presence not to overshadow Soccer Aid as a whole, with the event set to raise millions of pounds for UNICEF.
The Sun also noted that Mourinho's withdrawal is not in any way as a result of pressure from his new employers with the club believed to have left the decision entirely to the Portuguese manager himself.
As a result of Mourinho's absence from the game on Sunday, Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce will now step up from his role as England's assistant manager, while Premier League title winner Claudio Ranieri is still in line to coach the Rest of the World.
The likes of Jamie Carragher, Sol Campbell, Phil Neville and David Seaman are among the legends in the England squad. One Direction's Louis Tomlinson, who it is rumoured will be cast as Jamie Vardy in an upcoming film, Damian Lewis and Jack Whitehall are among the England celebrities involved.
The Rest of the World squad is a star studded affair, with Ronaldinho, Jaap Stam, Cafu, Edgar Davids, Fabio Cannavaro and Samuel Eto'o among those who will descend on Old Trafford.
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