Jose Mourinho reportedly reportedly set up by Benfica to appoint him as a new boss by the weekend following the firing of Bruno Reiji. The Portuguese coach previously linked Manchester United manager Reuben Amorim, but now appears to have made a deal with Mourinho. The 62-year-old, given a march order from Fenerbahce last month, previously managed the Lisbon side in 2000 for a short 11-game spell.
Now, reports from Portugal suggest that Benfica is on the brink of a sensational return to Estadio Dals as he scrambles to recover from a humiliating Champions League defeat to Karabag. Lage was given the brunt of the fallout after wasting a 2-0 lead at home and was shown the door early Wednesday morning. Benfica president Louis Costa has made it clear that he needs to take the helm following the shocking outcome as he strives to regain his position as a top club in Portugal.
Costa makes it clear that CNN Portugal has in principle reached an agreement and that with the two parties having resolved the details of the contract, Costa keeps his desire to act quickly. Costa said: “As for the next coach, I look forward to having a new coach on the bench at Vila Das Aves next Saturday.”
The man looks like Mourinho. Mourinho is an immeasurable respectful man in his home country. It was Porto who first opened up his reputation to dominate the domestic scene, clinching the UEFA Cup and Champions League in the back-to-back season before moving to Chelsea. And it’s the Blues who gave Benfica the return to Stamford Bridge to the special one that Benfica faces in the Champions League at the end of the month.
If Benfica secures Mourinho, it could effectively shut down Amorim’s potential exit routes, which remain increasingly uncertain in its position at United. This comes from despite the public support of the manager, regardless of his horrifying outcome.
The frontrunners to become Benfica’s next president, Joa Noronya Lopez, traveled to Manchester last weekend to witness Amorim’s team’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City at Etihad.
Lopez is open about his ambitions to return Amorim to Benfica if he wins Costa in next month’s presidential election. In a recent interview with Records, he refused to hide his respect for Amorim – he stopped checking the appointment plan.
“Ruben Amorim? He’s a great coach and has a contract with Manchester United. I won’t comment on that. Of course I like him. He’s a great coach and a Benfica fan. There’s no contract that Reuben will sign.”
Lopez’s aide would be Nuno Gomez – among the closest allies of Amorim who shared the pitch with him in both Benfica and Portugal – the former striker was clear about the vision of the United manager who eventually returned to Lisbon.
When asked about his potential comeback, he said: “Ruben Amorim is the coach of Manchester United. I can’t answer that question. One thing I know is that Reuben Amorim will one day become Benfica’s coach.”
