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Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes Jose Mourinho will be reinstated as the head coach of the La Liga club if he does not take over at Manchester United.
The Portuguese coach, who has been out of work since his dismissal from Chelsea last December, has been widely tipped to take over from Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford this summer.
Mourinho’s candidacy is believed to be a divisive subject among United’s hierarchy, with some board members being reluctant to appoint a coach who has a reputation for stirring controversy.
Calderon, Real’s club president between 2006 and 2009, believes that Mourinho will return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
“If Mourinho doesn't sign for Manchester United, he will be Real Madrid's next coach. I am completely sure of that,” Calderon told Mundo Deportivo.
“If the team doesn't win anything, sadly, we'll be seeing Mourinho on the bench again. That's my feeling.”
Mourinho previously took charge of Realbetween 2009 and 2013, winning one domestic league title, one Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana.
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The Portuguese’s time with the La Liga giants was regularly marked by controversy and dressing room fall-outs.
Calderon, who was replaced as president by current incumbent Florentino Perez, believes the same problems would re-surface upon his return.
“He will return and then we'll be back to the war games, fire-starting, uncomfortable press conference, Fifa, Uefa, Unicef,” he said. “That wasn't the best time for the club. Now, without him, there's a lot more peace.
“He provoked a series of conflicts which no one wants and it's far from ideal. The president has been trying to coax him back for the past year, he's tried on a number of occasions.
“Florentino [Perez] is going nuts to see Mourinho back at the club. If things don't go well, [Zinedine] Zidane [Real's current head coach] won't continue.”
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