Jose Mourinho to Manchester United: 'I'm not looking for a club,' says Portuguese

The 53-year-old was sacked as Chelsea manager in December following a disastrous title defence

Jose Mourinho (GETTY IMAGES)

Jose Mourinho has claimed he is not looking for a new job despite unrelenting speculation linking him with Louis van Gaal’s post at Manchester United.

The 53-year-old was sacked as Chelsea manager in December following a disastrous title defence which left them closer to the relegation zone than the Premier League summit.

As Van Gaal struggles to secure Champions League qualification for next season at Old Trafford, already dumped into the Europa League this term and six points adrift of the top four, Mourinho is believed by the Independent on Sunday to be ‘confident’ of being offered the job.

“My next club? I really do not know, but one thing is certain - I love football and I will return with the same passion and ambition I've always had,” the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager told La Stampa.

“Right now I have respect for every coach at every club. I'm not looking for a club, but there are clubs that are looking for me.”

Reports in Italy has suggested a recent meeting with Inter honorary president Massimo Moratti could mean the Portuguse is eying a return to the San Siro, where he won a historic treble including the Champions League in 2010.

“There is one thing I want to clarify - I will not be directing things over there next season. Inter already have a project that belongs to [current manager] Roberto Mancini and [president] Erick Thohir.

“Their ideas have my full support and I hope their plans are successful. I want to see Inter fans smiling again and so I hope to witness a victory tomorrow.”