Mourinho not heading to Real Madrid, says Perez

Jose Mourinho: Left the Bridge on Thursday

Jose Mourinho: Left the Bridge on Thursday

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has denied the club are planning a move to make Jose Mourinho their next manager.

Mourinho had three years in charge at the Bernabeu before leaving in 2013 and returning to England for a second spell in charge of Chelsea.

But after Mourinho departed Chelsea on Thursday, leaving last season’s Premier League champions just a point outside the relegation zone, the Madrid connection has been again raised.

Asked about Mourinho in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Perez said: “Nobody can predict the future but right now he is not going to come to Madrid.”

With Rafael Benitez at the helm, Madrid have struggled lately and stand five points behind co-leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the Primera Division.

“Benitez is capable of solving the problems we have,” said Perez. “That’s the only option we’re considering.

“We have very good memories of Mourinho, he raised our competitive level (when he was manager).”