Mourinho rejects soap-opera rumours of Real Madrid return

According to Goal, Jose Mourinho has responded to speculation he could return as Real Madrid manager, saying he is not interested. Mourinho, who won La Liga and the Copa del Rey in his previous spell at the club, told Sport TV: "Don't count on me for soap operas. There are good soap operas, but they're very long; you miss one or two episodes and then you lose track.

Don't count on me, because I don't watch soap operas." The remarks come after a turbulent week at the club that saw Xabi Alonso sacked following the Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona and replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa. Arbeloa's first game ended in a Copa del Rey exit to Albacete and his team then won 2-0 against Levante amid heavy boos for Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr.

Arbeloa said: "We knew it would be a difficult game because we had had a tough week and because of the atmosphere that had been created. It's not easy. I've also played matches after a big disappointment and you don't feel the same confidence as when things are going well. We knew we needed players with a lot of responsibility who wanted to take on this type of match." The situation has prompted suggestions Real could change managers again in the summer, with Jurgen Klopp tipped and Mourinho's name mentioned, but Mourinho has dismissed a return.

Key Topics

Sports, Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid, Alvaro Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso, Jude Bellingham