- José Mourinho reportedly rejected Portugal’s approach after Florentino Pérez asked him to return to the Santiago Bernabéu
- Kylian Mbappé, 27, injured his left knee on Friday during France’s 1-0 UEFA Nations League win over Turkiye
- Real Madrid had wanted Mbappé rested against Turkiye after he arrived at Clairefontaine with mild pain in the same area
Mourinho Chose Madrid After Portugal Talks
José Mourinho reportedly declined the chance to become Portugal’s national team coach because he opted to answer Florentino Pérez’s request for help at Real Madrid. According to AS, Pérez asked Mourinho to return to the Santiago Bernabéu to help the club through a difficult period, and the Portuguese coach prioritised that call over the national-team opportunity.
🚨 NEW: Jose Mourinho had spoken to the directors of the Portuguese National Team’s federation.
However, Real Madrid contacted him around this point, and he chose to join the club. @jfelixdiaz pic.twitter.com/eVaWB0B3FT
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) September 28, 2026
The report states that the Portuguese federation’s leadership approached Mourinho once it became clear in the weeks before the World Cup that Roberto Martínez would not continue in charge of the Navigators, regardless of events at the World Cup. AS described the discussions as highly specific, but Pérez’s intervention ultimately carried more weight for Mourinho, who returned to Madrid 13 years later.
It was not the first time Mourinho had been considered for the Portugal role. AS reports that in 2022, when Mourinho was again in charge of Real, the federation sought to appoint him and even offered the possibility of combining the Portugal post with his Madrid responsibilities. The Bernabéu, however, categorically rejected that arrangement.
AS also reports that Mourinho and Pérez have remained in contact throughout the years, with the relationship between them described as one of complete and unconditional trust.
Real Madrid Concerned By France’s Handling Of Mbappé
Real Madrid are also unhappy with the way France managed Kylian Mbappé’s situation, according to L’Équipe. The 27-year-old France captain suffered an injury during the UEFA Nations League victory over Turkiye on Friday, a match France won 1-0.
Mbappé started Zinédine Zidane’s first match as France head coach and scored the only goal of the game in the second half. The injury occurred when he shot with his right foot and damaged his left knee. The former Paris Saint-Germain forward then immediately left the France camp and returned to Spain for medical tests. The problem has not yet been diagnosed.
Real Madrid had wanted Mbappé to be rested for the Turkiye match. The forward arrived at Clairefontaine carrying mild pain in the same area he later injured on Friday night. That information was passed on to France’s medical staff, with a request for caution.
