Jos? Mourinho has often appeared to be a man intent on global domination and yesterday he signalled his intention to conquer football’s final frontier. In welcoming David Beckham to the United States, the Portuguese raised the tantalising prospect of following him here to work as a manager in 20 years’ time.
Mourinho had always insisted that he would end his career as the coach of Portugal, although four preseason tours to the United States in successive years have opened his eyes to other possibilities. With his outspoken personality and rugged good looks, the Chelsea manager would be a sure-fire hit in Hollywood.
“I would be tempted to come and work here,” Mourinho said. “In 20 years. Beckham is at the end of his career as a player; at the end of my career as a manager, I would love to. Before or after Portugal is a difficult question.
“The country is amazing. It is a big challenge to help soccer become more important in this country. This is a sports country, for sure, but everybody else knows that the hand games are in front of the foot games.”
Mourinho is not known for his diplomacy, but on the day of his arrival he had nothing but praise for Beckham’s latest career move. Although he rejected the opportunity to sign him for Chelsea two years ago, Mourinho believes that Beckham is the perfect player to elevate the sport in the US to a new level.
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“The objective is to bring soccer in the US up and they couldn’t choose a better player for that,” he said. “I think he’s more than a player, what he means to the world of football. He is more than a football player and brings a lot of attention behind him, so if the objective is to improve the [Los Angeles] Galaxy team, then for sure he is a better player than what they have.
“It is a big challenge, but he is the one to do it. The best one. European football will miss him because he showed more than enough quality to play the European game, but for the objectives of him to come here I think he’s the perfect player.
“I’m not sure, but I think the number of people who play the sport is huge, amazing. So I think people like Beckham can do it and he will attract other players to follow.”
Without ruling out more signings, Mourinho indicated that Chelsea’s summer recruitment had ceased, although they retain an interest in Daniel Alves, of Seville.
“I don’t think we will sign any more players,” Mourinho said. “When the market is open, you never know, but I don’t think so as the squad is very good. We have alternatives, we have the protection that we didn’t have last season for some positions. I think it’s more than enough.”
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Chelsea’s stance would change in the event of them losing players, however, and Andriy Shevchenko’s future remains uncertain. The Ukraine striker has toiled for the past three days in training, but despite his poor first season in England, AC Milan remain interested in taking him back.
Adriano Galliani, the club’s vice-president, had the latest of many conversations with Peter Kenyon, the Chelsea chief executive, on the subject, during which he was told that the ultimate decision rests with Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner. Mourinho takes a similar view, although he would not stand in Shevchenko’s way if the consensus was for the player to leave.
The prospect of the two clubs agreeing a transfer fee, however, remains distant.