Jose Mourinho 'reaches agreement' to return to ex-club with Ruben Amorim impacted

Jose Mourinho could find a quick return to management, with Benfica looking to appoint him by the weekend after sacking Bruno Lage. The Portuguese giants had been linked with Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, but have reached an agreement with Mourinho.

The 62-year-old, who was sacked by Fenerbahce earlier this month, led the Lisbon outfit for 11 games in his first managerial role back in 2000. Reports in Portugal now say he is set to return to Estadio da Luz as Benfica react to their embarrassing Champions League loss to Qarabag.

Lage paid the price for squandering a 2-0 lead at home and was axed in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Benfica’s president, Rui Costa, insisted a change of head coach was needed after the shocking result as they seek to become the premier club in Portugal again.

He made his intentions to act quickly very clear, with CNN Portugal reporting that an agreement in principle has been reached, with the two parties now finalising a contract. Costa said: "Regarding the next coach, we expect to have the new one on the bench at Vila das Aves next Saturday."

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That is set to be Mourinho, who has a huge reputation in his homeland. It was with Porto that the iconic coach first made his name, dominating domestically and claiming the UEFA Cup and the Champions League in successive seasons before his move to Chelsea.

Should Benfica land Mourinho then it may well close off an escape route for Amorim, whose job at United continues to look precarious. That is despite the Old Trafford hierarchy maintained they are behind their man, regardless of his horrendous record.

The leading candidate to become Benfica's next president, Joao Noronha Lopes, travelled to Manchester last weekend to watch Amorim's side lose 3-0 to Manchester City at the Etihad. Lopes has made no secret of his plans to bring Amorim back to Benfica if he does down Costa in next month’s elections.

Speaking in an interview with Record earlier this week, he made no hiding of his admiration for Amorim - although did distance himself from actually appointing him.

He said: "Ruben Amorim? He's a great coach, he has a contract with Manchester United. I won't comment on that. Of course I like him. He's a great coach and a Benfica fan. I don't have a contract for Ruben to sign."

Lopes' vice-president would be Nuno Gomes - one of Amorim's best friends who played alongside him for Benfica and Portugal - and the ex-striker has made it clear that he sees the United boss being back in Lisbon one day.

He was asked about the prospect of him returning and claimed: "Ruben Amorim is the coach of Manchester United, I can't answer that question. One thing I know, Ruben Amorim will be the coach of Benfica one day."

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