Jose Mourinho has appeared to tell Roma fans that he will be remaining at the club next season amid speculation that he could be on the move this summer.
The Roma boss had been linked with a shock return to Real Madrid this summer after links to Paris Saint-Germain. He recently admitted a preference for Madrid ahead of their upcoming Champions League tie against Chelsea amid suggestions that he could replace Carlo Ancelotti in the Madrid hotseat this summer.
Mourinho, who turned 60 in January, won Roma a first European trophy since 1961 with victory in the UEFA Conference League last season. His side fell just short in this season’s Europa League showpiece, as they were edged out by Sevilla in a penalty shootout in the decider.
After that final defeat, Mourinho did not commit to continuing at the Italian capital club after this campaign while demanding that changes be made but insisted that he had not spoken to any other clubs about his future.
“I can’t say I will be here next season,” Mourinho told reporters. “I will go on holiday on Monday, then we will speak. I told the owners I will tell them if I start talks with another club. As of now no other club called me. It is time for me to talk to the owners. It is time for the owners to talk to me.”
Roma concluded their campaign with a final day victory over Spezia, thus securing Europa League football once again for next season. However, their loss in the European final ensured that they would not be competing in next season’s Champions League.
Have Your Say! Should Mourinho stay at Roma next season? Tell us what you think here.
After Sunday’s match, Mourinho did the traditional lap of the pitch at the end of the campaign to salute the club’s fanbase. He appeared to signal that he would be staying at the club, by repeatedly pointing to himself and then at the ground – an indication that he will be at the stadium once more.
Mourinho is believed to be keen to managed in Europe’s premier club competition as soon as possible – the last time he coached in the tournament was overseeing Tottenham ’s elimination from the Champions League Round of 16 stage against RB Leipzig in March 2020.
It comes as UEFA singled out Mourinho as they announced a raft of charges against Roma and Sevilla for their antics during the Europa League final. Mourinho confronted referee Anthony Taylor in the car park after his side's defeat on penalties in Budapest, as well as taking aim at the official in his post-match press conference.
That has now seen him charged for using Insulting and/or abusive language against a match official by the governing body.
The game was ill-tempered throughout, with Taylor also being attacked in the airport as he attempted to make his way home on Thursday. Taylor handed out 13 yellow cards during the game as he was consistently surrounded by both sets of players after blowing up for fouls.
