Jose Mourinho: I'm never leaving England

Jose Mourinho was reportedly tapped up for a return to Real Madrid by club president Florentino Perez - but insisted that he will never again coach anywhere except England.

Spain's Mundo Deportivo reports that Perez called Mourinho after Chelsea's victory in the League Cup Final - partially to congratulate him, but also to try and persuade him to come back to the Bernabeu.

The conversation between the pair apparently lasted around 15 minutes - and it was at the end that Perez tried to tempt his former employee to replace the Carlo Ancelotti.

Mourinho's reported response was apparently unequivocal and emphatic:

"My wife is happy in London, my son is happy in London, my daughter is happy in London and I am happy in London," he said.

"I've returned to England and my professional career will end in England. I will not return to coach in any other country."

The report claims that Perez tried again, but Mourinho dug in still further:

"It is impossible, I am not coming back to Spain."

OUR VIEW

With Ancelotti's position looking increasingly under threat, and Mourinho's Chelsea now firmly re-established as the best team in England, it would be natural for Perez to turn to the Portuguese boss. But the strength of the response - assuming, of course, that the reported conversation actually took place - will be the stuff of dreams for Blues fans.

One big question remains, of course. Will Mourinho end up taking the Portuguese manager's job at some stage? The reference to his "professional career ending in England" suggests not - unless, as he has previously intimated, he sees the Portuguese role as not a job, but a sort of retirement diversion which he could undertake when the true meat and vegetables of his career have all been consumed.