Should Manqoba Mngqithi be worried? Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy confirms talks with 2025 Fifa Club World Cup-bound Mamelodi Sundowns' sporting director Flemming Berg - 'I wanna challenge myself'

Former Manchester United first-team coach Benni McCarthy has confirmed that he had a conversation with Mamelodi Sundowns sporting director Flemming Berg.

The Cape Town-born mentor has been unattached since parting ways with Manchester United following the expiration of his contract in June. 

McCarthy has been linked with a move to the Tshwane giants after Rhulani Mokwena's departure to Wydad AC but the club entrusted Manqoba Mngqithi to lead the team. 

McCarthy put the speculations to sleep after confirming that there has never been an official offer for him from Sundowns. 

"We bumped into each other at the airport, we recognized each other and we just spoke. We spoke about European football in general and Flemming told me about the time he worked as an international scout at Chelsea and he was based in Portugal at the same time that I was playing in Porto," McCarthy said on Tuesday.

"We just touched on that and spoke about modern-day football and South African football. It never came up that there was an insinuation from his side or my side that there could be a collaboration of working for the club that he is working for. 

"It was just an honest, normal chat and I think the club made the decision with the coaches that they have and it doesn't mean they should interfere with that just because I'm no longer in a club and that does not mean that I am available," the former Orlando Pirates star explained. 

"I wanna challenge myself if it's the right team for me and it concurs with the interested club. Those are the challenges that I want. I don't want to go into just any job because I want to coach," he added. 

"I'm enjoying my time with my family, I'm enjoying just going to watch different football clubs, going to learn at different clubs, speaking to different coaches, and expanding my knowledge on coaching. The type of coach that I want to be and how I can improve myself as football is changing. There was nothing formal about me meeting any South African club."

McCarthy has also revealed that he recently had interviews with three Major League Soccer clubs, as they intend to bring him on board. 

The 47-year-old trainer was also linked with a return to AmaZulu recently before Usuthu hired former Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi. 

McCarthy, who holds a Uefa Pro coaching license, should not find it difficult to get a new club considering his abundant experience having won the MTN8 with Cape Town City.

With MLS teams strongly looking for his service, it remains to be seen which team McCarthy will be heading to soon. 

Sundowns, on the other hand, are preparing for their Caf Champions League group stage away match with AS FAR Rabat on Saturday.