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Jose Mourinho delivers teasing response to Real Madrid vacancy links after Xabi Alonso departure – ‘I don’t watch soap operas’

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Highlights: Barca retain Supercopa de Espana with rollercoaster win over Real

Video credit: TNT Sports

Jose Mourinho has responded to rumours linking him with a return to Real Madrid following Xabi Alonso’s shock departure from the club by teasing: “Don’t count on me … for a soap opera.”
Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu at the start of the season but the former midfielder’s exit was announced after Madrid suffered defeat in the Spanish Supercopa de Espana against Clasico rivals Barcelona.
Alvaro Arbeloa, who played alongside Alonso at both Liverpool and Madrid, has replaced Alonso in the Madrid dugout as an interim but his tenure got off to a nightmare start when Los Blancos were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by second-tier Albacete.
A number of managers have been linked with the role in the Spanish capital, including former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who has since ruled himself out of a return to management.

Benfica boss Mourinho has also been touted for a potential return to Madrid. The Portuguese spent three years with the Spanish giants between 2010 and 2013, winning the league title and Copa del Rey but not the UEFA Champions League.

Speaking after the Lisbon side defeated Rio Ave at the weekend, Mourinho was in typically teasing form when discussing the rumours linking him with the job.

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Highlights: Benfica beat Napoli as Mourinho betters Conte

Video credit: TNT Sports

“Don’t count on me for soap operas,” he said. “There are many good soap operas but they take too long.

“Then you miss an episode or two and you lose track. Don’t count on me, I don’t watch soap operas.”

Mourinho appears to have enough on his plate at Benfica, where his return to the club has been disappointing so far.

Following his shock sacking from Fenerbahce earlier this season, Mourinho returned to Portuguese football with Benfica.

Despite not losing a single league game, Benfica find themselves third in the table and 10 points behind league leaders Porto.

They were also dumped out of the Taca de Liga by Braga and Mourinho responded to the cup exit by making his players sleep at the training ground as punishment.

Benfica have also struggled in Europe this season but are still hopeful of securing a place in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs.

Mourinho got the best of former adversary Antonio Conte in their last outing in the competition with an impressive 2-0 victory over Napoli.

Benfica will face Italian opposition once more on Wednesday night when they travel to Turin to face Juventus, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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