Mourinho not using FA as bait to land club job, says advisor

JOSE MOURINHO’S advisor has rejected any notion the former Chelsea boss is using the FA as a negotiating tool in order to land a massive club job in Europe.

Mourinho has emerged as the bookies’ favourite to succeed Steve McClaren as England coach, with reports suggesting the FA could be prepared to pay as much as £6million (€8.4m) a year in order to attract him.

So far, no contact has been made with Mourinho by FA chief executive Brian Barwick, who, along with director of football development Trevor Brooking, has been charged with the task of finding the next England coach.

Mourinho was at pains to avoid committing himself one way or another when a British TV crew arrived at his Portuguese home in Setubal but different sources close to the 46-year-old have offered widely differing views over his willingness to replace McClaren.

Some say he is keen on the job, others that he wants to stay in club management, with AC Milan emerging as a likely destination given their current poor form.

However, according to Mourinho’s trusted advisor Eladio Parames, there is no way he would use one job to get another.

“That is all lies,” he said. “Mourinho would never do that.”

Mourinho is currently on holiday with his family and Parames confirmed anyone interested would have to speak with his agent Jorge Mendes, who also represents Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Jose has not been contacted by any club or even the FA, so there have been no developments in his situation,” said Parames.

“If any club is interested in talking to him they must contact Jorge Mendes.

‘‘It’s (the job) something he’d consider but he’s not trying to get the FA’s attention. Nothing has happened. It is all just speculation.”

Fabio Capello is another live candidate for the job, having already declared his interest, while others such as Jurgen Klinsmann, Guus Hiddink, Marcello Lippi and Luiz Felipe Scolari continue to be discussed – as does Martin O’Neill, even though the Aston Villa boss has twice attempted to rule himself out of the running.