Mourinho firmly denied any contact with Real Madrid on Friday. Despite persistent rumors of his imminent return to the Bernabéu bench this summer, the Portuguese manager was keen to clarify his situation. At a press conference held on the eve of his team's trip to Famalição, the man nicknamed the "Special One" was categorical: "No one from Real Madrid has contacted me. I can guarantee you that."

At 63, the former Real Madrid coach (2010-2013) seems well-versed in media appearances and the speculation that often surrounds his career. He pointed out that he still has a year left on his contract with Benfica, the club with which he suffered a painful Champions League playoff exit last February, against Real Madrid. Mourinho emphasized that he is used to these kinds of rumors, but that there has been no concrete approach from the Spanish club so far.

The name of Mourinho, who led the team to the Spanish league title in 2012, is being mentioned repeatedly as Alvaro Arbeloa is already under pressure. Appointed in January to replace Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa is struggling to turn around a Real Madrid side heading towards a second consecutive season without a major trophy. With 11 points behind FC Barcelona in La Liga with only five games remaining, and having been eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich, the pressure is immense at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Last February, Mourinho had already tried to put an end to the debate by stating that he had given everything to Real Madrid during his first stint. While acknowledging the fantastic esteem in which he is held by the Madrid fans, he asserted that he did not want to encourage baseless stories.

However, the current crisis at Real Madrid continues to fuel fantasies of a return of the man who broke the hegemony of the great Barça more than ten years ago.