Jose Mourinho dismisses talk of Real Madrid return

Posted Tuesday, October 23, 2018 by PA

Jose Mourinho dismissed talk of a return to Real Madrid as the Manchester United manager spoke about staying at Old Trafford beyond his current deal.

Never far from scrutiny and speculation this season, talk that the 55-year-old could be pushed out by United has been followed by reports of a return to the Spanish capital.

There could soon be a vacancy at the Bernabeu after a poor start under new boss Julen Lopetegui, leading to talk that Mourinho could return to the club he managed between and 2010 and 2013.

But despite recent ups and downs at Old Trafford, the Portuguese insists such a move does not appeal. Instead, Mourinho is plotting a long-term future at United, where his contract runs until 2020 with the option of a further year.

“No, I am happy here,” he said. “I am happy here. I am happy to see out my contract to the very last day of that contract and I would like to stay after my contract runs out as well.

“All I am thinking about at the moment is Manchester United.”

The topic arose in the press conference previewing Tuesday’s mouth-watering Champions League encounter with Juventus, which brings around a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 33-year-old remains an Old Trafford hero after his medal-laden spell at the club, while Mourinho knows his compatriot well from their time together in Madrid.

“I thought Cristiano is in a level where he doesn’t need these questions and these answers,” Mourinho said when asked how he rated Ronaldo compared to everyone he has worked with.

“He is one of the best players of all time and nobody can tell different than that. He’s one of the best players of all time. It’s as simple as that.”

Mourinho veered from humorous to spiky in a packed press conference previewing Tuesday’s Group H encounter.

When asked a question in his mother tongue, he responded: “The last time I spoke in Portuguese I was in trouble,” in reference to the Football Association charge of using abusive, insulting or improper language following the victory over Newcastle.

Mourinho has to answer that charge by Wednesday – the day after facing Juventus without a string of first-team players.

Alexis Sanchez joins Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones, Diogo Dalot and Scott McTominay in missing out on a match that will see Paul Pogba come up against the club he left in a world-record fee in 2016.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, is confident he will be cleared of an allegation of rape, with the Juventus forward pledging to keep smiling and enjoying his life ahead of facing his former club.

The 33-year-old is being sued by a woman in the United States, who claims he raped her in the penthouse suite of a Las Vegas hotel in 2009.

Ronaldo firmly denied the allegation of rape in a Twitter post and did so again on the eve of Tuesday’s Champions League clash against former club United when he made a surprising appearance at the pre-match press conference at Old Trafford.

“I know I am an example,” Ronaldo said. “I know, 100 per cent. On the pitch and outside (of) the pitch, so I am always smiling, I am a happy man.

“I’m blessed that I play in a fantastic club, I have a fantastic family, I have four kids, I am healthy.

“I have everything, so the rest doesn’t interfere…so I’m very, very glad.”

British journalists’ hopes of questioning the forward were ignored at the press conference, despite answering almost entirely in English at his old stomping ground.

Ronaldo was in jovial mood, flashing smiles throughout the press conference at the No.7 Lounge, where his face adorns the walls alongside fellow greats like George Best, David Beckham and Eric Cantona.

The 33-year-old remains a fans’ favourite at United after a medal-laden spell between 2003 and 2009, meaning he will not celebrate should he score in Tuesday’s Group H encounter.

“It is a huge, emotional thing for me to come back,” Ronaldo said.

“I mean, I can remember what it was like when I was here in Manchester and know all about the history.

“I won lots of trophies here – the cups, leagues, the Champions League.

“I remember also the support as well. The support is fantastic and Sir Alex Ferguson is someone I will never, ever forget. Someone who gave me a huge lift in my career and I would like to express my best possible wishes to him.

“When I knew that we were going to be playing against Manchester United, it was huge for me.”