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Villas Boas: Talk of Porto exit absurd

The 33-year-old has, according to newspaper reports in several countries, attracted attention from clubs such as Roma, Juventus, Chelsea and Liverpool after leading Porto to the Portuguese league title in his first full season.

"There are incredible stories. Supposedly I said no to Roma because I was going to Liverpool," the coach told reporters ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg against Spanish side Villarreal. "It's absurd".

"The speculation is natural, given what this team has been doing. But it is still false information," he added.

"It's absurd to say they are coming to observe me. During the game, the coach does nothing more that walk around in a suit and run a little bit," Villas Boas said.

Interest from Europe's major clubs will almost certainly increase if Villas Boas follows in the footsteps of his former boss Jose Mourinho by adding a European trophy to the domestic title. Villas Boas spent years working as Mourinho's assistant at Porto and then at Chelsea and Inter Milan.

"Villarreal are the most difficult team we have come across on this route. They play high-quality attacking football, with a style that has been compared to Barcelona's," Villas Boas said.