Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has claimed he has yet to speak with Jose Mourinho about replacing Alvaro Arbeloa as coach.
Mourinho is widely reported to have agreed a deal to return for a second spell in charge of Los Blancos.
The Benfica boss first coached Madrid from 2010 to 2013, leading them to the LaLiga title in 2011-12 as they broke the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
Were he to return to the Santiago Bernabéu, Mourinho would be taking over a side in turmoil after a trophy-less season that, in the final weeks, was defined by infighting between players.
However, Perez kept his cards close to his chest when asked about Mourinho in an interview with RTVE, indicating he has a second name in mind for the job.
“I’m thinking about it,” Perez said of his decision in appointing a replacement for Arbeloa.
“Do I have a name in mind? Two. Mourinho? He’s a good coach, clearly. I’m not going to announce it because I haven’t spoken to him yet.”
Mourinho’s appointment may hinge on the outcome of the club’s presidential election on June 7.
Perez hit out at rival Enrique Riquelme, comparing him to former president Ramon Calderon. Madrid won two league titles during Calderon’s presidency, which lasted from July 2006 to January 2009, but he was forced to resign due to a vote-rigging scandal. Calderon denied any wrongdoing.
“I love Real Madrid very much, and when I see them going after it, here I am,” Perez said. “I was detecting a shadowy movement aimed at destabilizing the club through me. And since I still believe in the members, I called for elections.
“And when I see the other candidacy, it turns out they’re the same people from Calderon’s time, which was the most sinister period in Real Madrid’s history. Furthermore, they say that this man [Riquelme] has taken out a loan at 54 per cent annual interest. How can anyone ask for that? And I’m not making this up. It seems like he’s come here because he needs the club for his own business.”
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