Jose Mourinho has outright denied he is in negotiations with Newcastle United or any other club, while he trusts Roma ‘100 per cent’ not to ‘talk to other coaches behind my back.’
The Special One is only under contract at the Stadio Olimpico until the end of the current campaign and negotiations over a new deal have not even been approached yet.
Director Tiago Pinto continues to shut down any questions about his future, insisting it has to be sorted out behind closed doors within the club, but the fact remains there is a great deal of uncertainty.
Mourinho was asked this evening in a press conference if he had turned down the Brazil job, just as Carlo Ancelotti had done?
“I don’t know if it’s true or not about Brazil, because they did not speak directly to me. I told my agent that until the club has decided if I am staying or not, I don’t want to know or talk to anyone else.”
This also shuts down any of the English reports claiming that Newcastle United are lining Mourinho up for next season.
However, when asked if the Friedkin family – who own Roma – were in talks with other coaches, the Portuguese tactician became riled up.
“I honestly don’t believe it is true, because for me the honesty and reciprocity are essential. I have no reason to think the Friedkin family is not honest, that it does not understand reciprocity the way I do. I trust their honesty 100 per cent.
“That does not mean they want me here, but I do not believe that they are talking behind my back with other coaches. I will tell you why. I am giving you some news here – my Netflix series starts next week, it is covering my whole career, things I never told people. In that series, you will discover I am completely insane.
“I had not yet signed for Roma, but had given my word to Roma. I received an offer from a club, I won’t say which, I did say it in the series, who wanted me to break my word with Roma and I refused.
“When I received the offer from Portugal, from Saudi Arabia, the first person I told was my President. I do not believe they are talking about other coaches behind my back. I think all the rumours that are coming out are not true.
“I believe in reciprocity. I did it for them, they will do it for me.”
Earlier in the press conference, Mourinho had also reiterated his love for the Roma supporters, having thumped his hand against his heart when they sang his name during today’s 2-1 Coppa Italia comeback win over Cremonese.
“I have no more words for these fans. When you are losing at home to a team that you in theory ought to beat, in almost every stadium in the world, the crowd will jeer. That will damage your confidence, but we were losing until the 77th minute and the people just kept going.
“How could I not be emotionally moved by that? I have won in many clubs, many cities, won many trophies, but at none of those did I have this fondness and emotional bond with the fans.”
#Mourinho: “Futuro? Ho fiducia nei #Friedkin, non penso che parlino con altri allenatori, come io non parlerò con altre squadre” https://t.co/gCAOCsZ1GT
— Alfredo Pedullà (@AlfredoPedulla) January 3, 2024