Jose Mourinho denies contact with former club

Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho has responded to questions about his future following a number of reports about his whereabouts next season.

The Portuguese manager’s name has been thrown into the ring as the potential next head coach of his former club, after they sacked their manager in January.

According to The Athletic in April, Real Madrid club president Florentino Perez has been personally driving the push to re-appoint Jose Mourinho, with current boss Alvaro Arbeloa expected to be dismissed at the end of the season after a disappointing campaign.

Mourinho managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning three trophies in his stint at the club. The former Madrid and Manchester United boss, now head coach at Portuguese outfit Benfica, has responded to new questions over his future.

“I want to clarify one thing. In football, it is not the professionals who are interested in leaving or staying. When something happens, it is the clubs that are interested and whether or not they begin the procedures to sign the people they love,” Mourinho said ahead of his side’s penultimate game of the season against Braga, according to as.

Mourinho continued, “Real Madrid continues to be talked about and I continue to avoid the topic with sincerity. I have not had contact with the president or any other club.

“In the season finale I don’t talk to anyone. I have not had any contact with Real Madrid and I will not have it until after the last League match against Estoril. Afterwards, there is a period of one week in which I will be free to speak with whoever I consider appropriate.”

The 63-year-old’s stance has become extremely clear – he will remain focused on Benfica until the season is over. But after that, talks could start to pick up. It’s a professional decision which Benfica fans will feel grateful he has made, despite their title hopes in Liga Portugal being over.

Jose Mourinho managed Manchester United from 2016 to 2018, winning both the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League in his first season, before guiding the club to a second-place finish in the following campaign.

With the Red Devils also looking for their next manager, it is unlikely to be Mourinho, who left the club in 2018 following a breakdown in relationships with United players and a poor run of results.

Their former manager is remaining deadset on the games at hand for Benfica, but the outside noise may start to ramp up as a decision on his future approaches.