Real Madrid denied Thursday a report that top players had demanded coach Jose Mourinho leave before next season, warning the club: "It's him or us."

Top sports daily Marca splashed on the front page its claim of an ultimatum delivered to chairman Florentino Perez on Tuesday.

"President, it's Mou or us," headlined the paper in its account of the meeting between captains Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos and the club management.

According to the paper, they told Perez that several players were ready to leave the club if the self-anointed "Special One" remained in charge for the next season.

But the club said the claims were false.

"The meeting took place but not the topic of conversation described by Marca," said a spokesman.

"What Marca said is false."

Perez was scheduled to hold a news conference on the matter on Thursday in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.