Like clockwork, the Jose Mourinho rumours cometh once more. Not even a Champions League Round of Sixteen win over Lyon held them off - the Real Madrid manager is once again being linked with being, well, somewhere else. And, of course, he's encouraging the chatter despite being in a relatively good position in every competition he's pursuing. Hit it, Jose (via BBC Radio 5):
I miss England and my next job will be in England. There is unfinished business.
And I think England wants me back, no? It was the most enjoyable time of my career.
Although Mourinho didn't talk about a timetable for this return to England, it would surprise approximately nobody if a move happened as early as this summer with potential managerial vacancies at both Chelsea and Manchester City. As to exactly why someone would leave the most high-profile team in the world when they're being paid an exorbitant salary isn't for me to say. Mourinho discussed the possibility of leaving Real in the summer at the Nordoff-Robbins charity dinner on Tuesday:
No, next season is very difficult. I told a few months ago, and I have to say always the same, which is every season if the club is happy, if the manager is happy, if the players are happy, and if the bosses are happy, there is no reason to change club. So at the end of the season I will sit with my people in Real Madrid and we will analyse the situation and if everybody is happy I have three more years of contract and I will stay in Real Madrid.
The inverse, of course, is that if someone is not happy, Mourinho will not stay at Real. As for whether he's happy or not? He's not telling.