Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has hinted at a potential reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo in his next managerial job. The former Real Madrid manager worked with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner during his three season stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Mourinho oversaw Fenerbahce's 2-1 win over Portuguese second division club Portimonense in a pre-season tie last week. The 62-year-old, interestingly, earned the big break in his managerial career with Portuguese club Porto.
Speaking to Sport TV, as cited by The Mirror, Jose Mourinho express a desire to manage in his native country once again, either at club or national level.
"I will come back to Portugal for sure. It hasn't happened yet, but it will happen. Not because I feel close to the end, I feel far from that. I don't want to come to Portugal for a golden retirement or for my final years in my career," said Mourinho.
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He continued:
"I want to come to Portugal at the peak of my career, in good health and in top physical and mental shape. I will definitely return. Club or national team? Either, but not Portimonense, because they already have a good manager (laughs)."
Should Jose Mourinho take over the national team from Roberto Martinez, he could have an awkward reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo. The duo reportedly had a fallout at Real Madrid due to the five-time Ballon d'Or winners' lack of tactical discipline.
How many goals did Cristiano Ronaldo score under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid?
Cristiano Ronaldo was a goalscoring machine under Jose Mourinho at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Portuguese superstar appeared 164 times under his countryman for Real Madrid, scoring 168 goals and setting up 49 goals.
Despite reports of a strained relationship between the two, they have always spoken well about each other. For instance, Mourinho once stated that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner doesn't need to be coached.
"I think you don't coach [him]. Motivation, you don't need to give him. Ambition, you don't need to give him. Technique, you don't need to give him. You give some tactical adjustments and let the guy be happy," said Mourinho.
Jose Mourinho also rubbished any talk of bad blood between the two.
"A coach and a player may have their differences at a given time, but it ends there."
Interestingly, Cristiano Ronaldo has previously named Mourinho as the best coach of his career, ahead of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
