Jose Mourinho: 'I will return to management this summer'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 09 April 2016

Rumoured Manchester United target Jose Mourinho confirms that he will return to management this summer, but insists that he has not yet agreed a deal with any club.

Jose Mourinho has confirmed that he will return to management this summer, but insists that he has not yet agreed a deal with any club.

The Portuguese has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in December, just seven months after steering the Blues to the Premier League title.

Mourinho has been strongly linked with the Manchester United job on numerous occasions since leaving Stamford Bridge, but while he revealed that he would like to return to the Premier League, he refused to comment on the prospect of succeeding Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.

"[Van Gaal] is my friend, I worked with him for a few years. I am always linked with jobs and in the summer I will have a job, but in this moment I can promise you I do not have a contract with any club. I have made this exception to speak because I didn't speak for a long time, but I am going back to the same position," Mourinho told Sky Sports News.

"The only thing I can say is I don't have a contract with any club but in the summer I will be back. I am not in a position to turn down [jobs]. I am in a position to analyse, this is April, everything starts in July, every decision is made between May and the start of June.

"I am not in a position to deny, I am open to any club, national team, but I have to be honest, if possible, a club. I would prefer [to stay England]. I love the country, the football here, my family is very stable and happy."

Mourinho was also the subject of an ambitious approach from the Syrian FA to become the national team coach, but the 53-year-old confirmed that he has turned that offer down.

"They published on their website the letter they sent to my agent. That one I have to say is true, but I have to say in a very special way we said we were not interested in the job," he added.

Mourinho has won three Premier League titles from his five full seasons in the division.