Jose Mourinho has emerged as a candidate for the Paris Saint-Germain job in the week his Roma play a European semi-final.
French media claim that the Portuguese coach’s superagent Jose Mendes is already in talks with PSG sporting director Luis Campos. The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss is viewed as the man to bring discipline to the PSG dressing room and finally win the Champions League for the Qatari-backed club.
Mourinho, who turned 60 in January, won Roma a first European trophy since 1961 with victory in the UEFA Conference League last season. And they face Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final in the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday.
But charged with qualifying for the Champions League in this campaign, Roma sit down in seventh place with four games to go in Serie A. And Mourinho branded official Daniele Chiffi “the worst referee” he had ever seen and has become involved in running feuds with pundit Antonio Cassano and Renzo Ulivieri, the President of the Italian Coaches Association.
He has one year left on his contract in the Eternal City. RMC has claimed Mourinho had no interest in any return to Chelsea but would be interested in the Qatari-owned club who will part with coach Christophe Galtier and Lionel Messi this summer.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho was contacted by a Chelsea director who wanted to gauge his interest in a return to Stamford Bridge, where he won three Premier League titles over two spells as manager. 'The Special One' however, refused to participate in discussions, with a new contract at Roma or a move to France appearing his two favoured options.
PSG are six points clear at the top of Ligue 1 but lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16. Tottenham target Julian Nagelsmann and Bologna coach Thiago Motta, who played for PSG, are also in the frame for the Paris job.
Mourinho's future could well be determined by the outcome of his side's Europa League campaign. Despite their faltering Serie A form, if the Portuguese boss can oversee a competition win for the third time, it would guarantee the Champions League place that owner Dan Friedkin craves.
The Giallorossi have not dined at Europe's top table since the 2018/19 season, where they were beaten in the last 16 by Porto. Their last Europa League semi final appearance came two years ago, beaten 8-5 on aggregate by another of Mourinho's former clubs, Man United.
