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José Mourinho ‘focused on Roma until the end of the current season, although he will communicate his wish to the club to terminate his contract a year earlier to take charge of the Portugal team’
The meeting between Jorge Mendes and the Portuguese Federation did not yield positive results. Any suggestion of a shared job posting between Rome and Portugal has been banished, according to reports.
Corriere dello Sport They report that Mendes met with federation president Fernando Soares Gomes da Silva on Thursday to discuss José Mourinho’s current plans. Roma are keeping his attention for now, but hope the club will not get in the way of his desire to lead the national team by June 2023.
Mourinho will speak to Roma’s owners to find a solution, and it is believed that the Portuguese is likely to request the termination of his contract with the club a year early to take charge of Portugal.
José Mourinho has been strongly linked with the work of the Portugal national team after Fernando Santos was sacked
The Roma manager is said to want the concert by June 2023, a year before his contract with Roma expires.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager declined to comment when asked on Thursday about links to the Portugal national team job.
Portugal, which was knocked out of the World Cup at the quarterfinal stage by Morocco, is looking for a new coach after parting ways with Fernando Santos, who spent eight years in charge.
Several players failed to thank Santos for his service, prompting rumors of deep divisions within the team after a disappointing end to their World Cup campaign, which was marred by Cristiano Ronaldo’s histrionics that left him on the bench for their two knockout heats.
According to the Italian press, Mourinho believes a lot in the Portugal project and has asked to be able to dedicate himself completely to the Portuguese team.
The hypothesis of leading Portugal and taking it to the 2024 Euro Cup and the 2026 World Cup is stimulating for Mourinho and his squad.
In the coming months, Mourinho will seek to reach a solution with Roma, although it seems likely that they will agree to let him go to ensure the hiring of a manager who is fully committed to the club.
Santos was sacked by Portugal after eight years in charge after the defeat against Morocco
Also according to Corriere dello Sport, Mendes has communicated to the Portuguese national federation Mourinho’s wish to focus solely on the performances in the Italian capital until June 2023.
His temporary closure of talks with the Portuguese federation is closely linked to his commitments with the Italian club, but relations continue to be excellent.
For Mourinho, the no to Portugal is painful, but temporary. At the end of this current campaign, with the Portuguese looking to return Roma to the Champions League, hopefully the focus will turn to his own national team.
Meanwhile, former Portuguese midfielder Maniche, who played under Mourinho at Porto and with the Blues, told Radio Renascenca the 59-year-old would do a good job if he took over.
He said: ‘He is an experienced coach who is very prepared for difficulties because he knows our football and football abroad, he is intelligent and knows how to treat youngsters. He has already adapted to this generation and he showed it by winning a title in Rome, something that did not happen a few years ago.
Jorge Mendes (R) next to Portugal’s potential past and potential future in 2019