Jose Mourinho insists that he has not made a decision over his future amid speculation that he’s to quit Real Madrid and is odds-on to make a dramatic return to Stamford Bridge.
The former Chelsea manager fuelled rumours that he will be leaving the Santiago Bernabeu with his post-match comments on Tuesday when his side were eliminated from the Champions League by Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund. Mourinho spoke of a need to be somewhere that he is ‘loved’ and suggested it wasn’t the Spanish capital.
However, speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s clash against Real Valladolid, he was adamant that nothing was set in stone yet:
“It’s not worth talking about if I go or not. If I go, I will not give explanations.
“I’m working with total professionalism and I still have the same honour and pleasure to work for this club as I did a month or two ago.
“I have not taken the decision yet. First to know will be my wife and my children. Then the president (Florentino Perez) and director general (Jose Angel Sanchez).
“We will speak about the future after the end of the season. I have a Copa del Rey final and La Liga matches to play.”
It’s obvious that he hasn’t signed any sort of agreement with another club as yet, it’s impossible to be on two contracts at once, but everybody has tried to read into his recent behaviour and it isn’t an easy task.
His position in Spain is untenable, everyone knows that, and the press there will do their utmost to force him out of the club. Then there’s the power group in the dressing room that want to see Mourinho gone and will pressure the president’s hand. It’s a safe bet that he’s leaving Real, but where will he go?
Chelsea are favourites for a reason. He has an existing affinity with the club and after hopping around Europe the likes of Rob Beasley claim that he just wants to settle down and create a dynasty like his friend Sir Alex Ferguson. I’d certainly hope they’re right if he does return as the short-termism of his previous posts makes me worry that it could all end in tears again.
The other main contender is Paris Saint-Germain, the club I initially believed he’d end up at. His agent Jorge Mendes has frequented the French capital recently but this could be more to do with summer transfers for his players. I do believe that the Parisian club will be more willing to bend over backwards to get him there than Roman Abramovich will.
You cannot discount the other jobs that may open up in the Premier League either as there’s no telling what Manchester City will do, although ex-Barca chiefs Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain will likely look elsewhere if Roberto Mancini was to leave. Arsene Wenger has also been linked with an exit despite his wish to stay at Arsenal and if Mourinho did want to replace Ferguson then he’s better off waiting at PSG as Chelsea wouldn’t take too kindly to it.
Just a rumour, but I heard Klopp is becoming increasingly frustrated at Dortmund after the sale of Gotze, and Lewandowski (inevitably).
Despite having money to spend the club are finding it hard to find replacements.