José Mourinho refuses to guarantee Benfica future amid links to Real Madrid return

José Mourinho is currently the head coach of SL Benfica -Credit:Miguel Lemos/NurPhoto via Getty Images José Mourinho was unable to confirm whether he will remain in charge of Benfica next season, stoking speculation of a sensational return to Real Madrid. Mourinho, 63, only kicked off his second stint with Benfica in September and is contracted to the club until June 2027. However, after Real, who were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League this week, reportedly decided against handing interim manager Álvaro Arbeloa the role on a permanent basis, the former Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur boss has emerged as a leading candidate.

At a press conference on Saturday, ahead of their 2-1 win against Sporting CP on Sunday, Mourinho was asked whether he could guarantee his presence at Benfica at the start of next season. "I cannot say, how can I say such a thing? It doesn't just depend on me!

It's obvious," the Portuguese replied, before drawing a comparison between his position and that of the journalist questioning him, as per The Mirror . Giorgi Mamardashvili injury update as Arne Slot comments on hospitalized Liverpool goalkeeper Declan Rice's rallying call to Arsenal teammates after Premier League title race blow Mourinho previously led Real Madrid to three trophies in three years -Credit:Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images "A coach in a club structure, a coach, a player, a press director, a physiotherapist, all of us in a club structure, like you, as a journalist from A BOLA, you cannot guarantee that you will be at BOLA for the next 10 years; maybe you want to be, but you cannot guarantee it. Obviously, I cannot guarantee it.

" According to Portuguese outlet Record , there is mutual interest between Mourinho and his former club. It is also claimed that Real president Florentino Pérez has his sights set on Jürgen Klopp, Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, Lionel Scaloni, and current U. S.