Portuguese man of where?
- By Simon Stafford
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 23, 2012
Manchester City
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Roberto Mancini's future at Manchester City is not clear. |
This one has been brewing for a while, and, on the surface, you have to say that the odds in its favor look promising. Just factor in the four Ms: Media, money, Mansour, Mancini. Mourinho’s poor relationship with the Spanish media is in stark contrast to the one he enjoyed with the British press, and he has often spoken fondly of his time in the Premier League, stoking constant discussions about a possible return. One thing is for sure: Of all the clubs in the world, Manchester City, with the Croesus-like backing of owner Sheikh Mansour, can certainly afford to pay both Mourinho’s expected 25 million pounds release fee from Real and his likely steep wage demand.
In addition, Mansour, having already invested heavily in the squad, is looking for a quick return on his investment, as Mark Hughes found out to his cost. And if Mourinho secures the La Liga title (and possibly the Champions League) and Roberto Mancini, City’s current manager, fails to deliver the Premier League title having let a 12-point advantage slip, then who better for Mansour to turn to for success than Mourinho? The only possible fly in the ointment is that Mourinho has made no secret in the past of his admiration for City’s fierce local rivals, Manchester United, and their legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Chelsea
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Will Mourinho return to Roman's legion this summer? |
Mourinho has made no secret of his continuing love affair with the west London club, and, as far as the fans are concerned, the feeling is very much mutual. Having delivered two Premier League titles in three years and an appearance in the semi-final of the Champions League, many Chelsea fans, along with demanding Russian owner Roman Abramovich, would be delighted to see the glory days return to Stamford Bridge. And there’s little question that Mourinho, plus money, equals success; and like Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City, Abramovic has plenty of wherewithal, and could also afford to pay Real’s whopping compensation demand.
According to an unnamed Chelsea source quoted in the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper, Abramovich, having settled his differences with Mourinho, is so determined to bring back the Portuguese that he has agreed to “top Jose’s current wages and pay compensation to buy out the remaining two years of his contract [at Real].” The possible nail in the Real coffin is that Mourinho was spotted house-hunting in London at the end of February. Which leads us on to…
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