Manchester United boss Mourinho open to Real Madrid return

Jose Mourinho believes there is a good chance Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will offer him a way out of his Manchester United hell, claims the London Evening Standard.

Mourinho’s United future has been the subject of intense debate this season but the Portuguese has even joked the club cannot afford to sack him after signing a new long-term deal at the start of the year.

Reports have claimed United would have to pay Mourinho as much as £12m if they relieved him of his duties before the end of the season, though that fee would reduce significantly in the summer if Mourinho fails to get the club into next season’s Champions League.

Mourinho was briefly linked with a return to Madrid after the reigning European champions sacked Julen Lopetegui at the end of October but the United manager refuted claims he would leave Old Trafford.

Santiago Solari signed a three-year deal as Madrid manager after an impressive start as interim boss but president Perez is not afraid to make bold decisions and it wouldn’t be a surprise if there was a new manager in place at the start of next season.

Mourinho spent three years as Madrid manager and Perez, who is extremely fond of the 55-year-old, insisted at the time of his departure that it was a mutual parting and not a dismissal.

Things have gone from bad to worse for Mourinho since denying any interest in the Madrid hot seat and now the United manager is open to the idea of a second stint at the Bernabeu.

United are already 19 points adrift of Premier League leaders Manchester City and could be as many as 11 points off the top four if they lose at home to Arsenal on Wednesday night.

Furthermore, the Red Devils are also 10 points worse off at this stage of the season as they were last term.