Jose Mourinho has given the biggest signal yet that he’ll be leaving Benfica for Real Madrid.
The Portuguese has reportedly already held talks with his former side after president Florentino Perez made him his first choice hire.
As such, Mourinho has been bombarded with questions about Madrid, and so far has pointed out he can’t speak to other sides until the end of the season.
Yet that’s a big change from his previous stance that he wanted to stay at Benfica, and sign a more solid contract than his current 1+1 deal.
Benfica drew with Casa Pia on Monday night to put their Champions League hopes likely beyond them, and as such, Mourinho said he won’t be signing a new deal right now.
Asked about his comments on March 1st that he was desperate to sign a new deal, he was asked if he’d say the same now.
Mourinho no longer wants new Benfica deal
He responded: “No. Because March 1st is March 1st.
“The last week of the championship isn’t for thinking about the future, about contracts, it’s for thinking about the mission we had, which was to perform a miracle.
“I think you understand what I mean by miracle. From the moment we entered this final phase, I decided I didn’t want to listen to anyone, that I wanted to be ‘isolated’ in my workspace.
“As I said a couple of weeks ago, there’s a game against Estoril, and from Monday I’ll be able to answer what my future as a coach and the future of Benfica will be.”
Last nights draw means Benfica are almost certain to finish third and therefore miss out on the Champions League to Sporting.
Asked if the lack of top tier European football impacts his future, Mourinho responded: “No. I’m talking about Benfica, you’re talking about Real.
“The work we’ve done, for me, won’t change whether we finish second or third. That’s not what will influence things.
“Of course, Benfica wants to play in the Champions League, and I prefer that too, but it doesn’t matter.”
Finally, he was asked if the supporters deserve more transparancy from him.
“Of course, it’s up to me to give the answer,” he said.
“Have you ever seen me hide my decisions? Now, nobody can force me to communicate decisions because I’m the one who decides when.
“I’m not in a position to answer you. In my mind, since the discussion of possibilities began, there was only winning and doing my best.
“The respect that Benfica deserves, that my profession deserves. Let nobody touch that, unless it’s some idiot who does. Let nobody touch that.
“I have the right to isolate myself. I didn’t speak to anyone from another club. I didn’t speak to anyone from any club. It didn’t make sense to do anything other than concentrate. It doesn’t sound like a farewell, it sounds like the respect I have for them.
“I’ve already experienced in Rome starting a season with a suspension from a previous season. It’s not a good situation. It’s not good. For me and for my club, calm down. Only one week left…”
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