Jose Mourinho has ruled out replacing Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United - because he has no interest in scrapping for mere survival.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss has been out of work since December, after his Old Trafford dismissal.
And the Portuguese has been linked with a Premier League return as a replacement for old foe Benitez.
Newcastle released a statement on Monday confirming that the Spaniard would be departing when his contract expires on Sunday - going public without even telling Benitez.
"We have worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract over a significant period of time, however it has not been - and will not be - possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives."
Toon owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley have now been tasked with replacing Benitez and with the kind of candidate that will win over an unhappy fan base.
Mourinho could well be such a candidate, but he has now publicly declared that he has no interest in merely surviving in the Premier League - something which has become the Geordies' approach under Ashley.
"The only thing that I know is what I don't want: I am quite pathological in the sense of I have to play to win," Mourinho told The Coaches' Voice.
"Then, if I don't win, then that's my problem and the players and the club and the structure but I need a project where the feeling is I play to win.
"If somebody gives me a wonderful 10-year contract and the objective of the team is to stay in the first half of the table and if you finish seventh, eighth or ninth, it's perfect, then that's not for me. That's my nature.
"My next [position] is to fight to win".
A number of experienced bosses have already expressed an interest in replacing Benitez, including Laurent Blanc, Claudio Ranieri and former Feyenoord chief
