Jose Mourinho did not make Ryan Giggs an offer to stay at Old Trafford as assistant manager, the former Manchester United winger has told the Manchester Evening News.
Giggs worked as Louis van Gaal's assistant for two seasons after ending his playing career in 2014, and it was reported that he would be retained by Mourinho when he arrived last summer.
But United's record appearance holder has said that was never an option, adding: "There was no offer from Jose Mourinho. No offer. It was my choice to go.
"As soon as Louis was going I had made my decision to go. I had done two years and I wanted to do three years under Louis. It didn't happen. That was my plan, to do my three years and see what happened after that.
"Unfortunately, that was cut short. It happens. That's football. But I didn't really feel I could go on at the club in any other capacity apart from manager."
Giggs has made no secret of his desire to become a manager, having taken charge of United for four games as caretaker after the dismissal of David Moyes in April 2014.
But the 43-year-old has said he is happy to wait for the right opportunity, adding: "I'm quite happy with life at the moment. I have always said I would like to go into coaching but I am not in any rush. I am not desperate.
"If the right job comes along I will look at it. But I have other things. I do technical observer work for UEFA, I do TV. I am still watching a lot of football and am involved in football but I also have a lot of other stuff.
"I am able to watch my son play football, which I have never been able to do. It is a nice balance at the moment.
"I feel I have all the attributes to be a good coach, a good manager for sure. I spoke to Swansea. It didn't work out.
"Because I have said I want to go into coaching and management every job that comes up I am linked with -- and then I miss out on the job without having spoken to anyone. That's frustrating, but that's football."