Photograph: Angelo Carconi/EPA
There are few lands left to conquer for José Mourinho. In fact, with eight league titles, five European trophies and eight major domestic cups across four countries, he’s effectively won it all. Which is why a brewing rumour that he could be taking charge of the Brazilian national team is so tantalising.
Picture it. The Special One. The yellow and blue of the Seleção. The most expectant fanbase in the world. Joelinton. It’s a potent mix and would certainly inject some needed star power on the touchline of the international game.
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“I don’t know if it’s true or not about Brazil, because they did not speak directly to me,” said Mourinho after Roma’s 2-1 win over Cremonese on Wednesday night. “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.”
The chat has been fuelled by reports that Roma are in the hunt for a new manager as well as speculation that Mourinho’s next logical step would be the international arena. He’s already had offers to take charge of his native Portugal as well as Saudi Arabia but for now is staying put.
So too is Aaron Wan-Bissaka. That is, if he accepts the 12-month contract extension offered by Manchester United which would keep the right-back at Old Trafford until the summer of 2025. The 26-year-old is currently raking in £90,000-a-week, the same deal he’s been on since joining from Crystal Palace five years ago. And with his contract running out at the end of this season, the club is reportedly open to a pay bump following this initial short-term adjunct.
That will be good news for United fans who must be craving some stability following this period of uncertainty. But chaos is a ladder and with new owners at the top table, a wish-list has been drawn up to help revive the once dynastic force. A pair of 27-year-old forwards in Timo Werner from RB Leipzig as well Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy have been contacted, as have the comparative veterans of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Thomas Müller – both 34 and both from Bayern Munich.
Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund are looking to snag Chelsea’s 21-year-old left-back Ian Maatsen, perhaps on loan for the time being, while Thiago Silva could be leaving south-west London and returning to Brazil at the end of the season. His contract is up in May and Fluminense are apparently ready to offer a safe landing back in Brazil.
