Jose Mourinho is ready to talk to Newcastle’s potential new owner if multi-billionaire Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan comes calling.
Advisors representing the Sheikh insists his £350million offer for the Premier League club is genuine, although their current owner Mike Ashley has yet to see any proof of the takeover funds.
As we exclusively revealed last weekend, Sheikh Khaled has his own managerial targets with Rafa Benitez’s Tyneside future still shrouded in doubt. One of them is former Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid boss Mourinho , who is aware of the interest and has told friends the Newcastle job is one that he would consider seriously.
He has always had a soft spot for the Geordies, since working with his mentor and Newcastle icon Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona in the 1990s.
Robson would often regale an attentive Mourinho with stories of St. James’ Park and later went on to manage his hometown club.
Mourinho said last summer: “I like to go there. I like the feeling of going to Mr Robson’s home. I like that feeling. I like the stadium. I like the atmosphere. They are a good, enthusiastic crowd. I like the Geordies.”
He insists he would be open to the challenge of managing a club that wasn’t among the elite but had the potential to eventually compete for trophies. The Portuguese believes Newcastle fit into that category.
Remarkably, Mourinho has never won a league game at St James' Park in seven tries with Chelsea and Man United, losing four times and drawing the other three.
A Champions League winner as Porto and Inter Milan boss, Mourinho has won the title in Portugal (twice), England (three times), Italy (twice) and Spain, domestic cups in all four nations, the old UEFA Cup and the Europa League.
He has been out of work since being sacked by Man United in December during his third season in charge.
Newcastle fan-favourite Benitez is out of contract this summer after keeping the Magpies safe from relegation for a second season running.
