Roma’s Jose Mourinho refuses to comment amid links to replacing Fernando Santos as Portugal boss

Jose Mourinho has refused to comment on links to the vacant Portugal manager’s job after being swamped by journalists. 

Fernando Santos was sacked by the Portuguese FA on Thursday after his side’s surprise World Cup quarter-final exit against Morocco.

And Mourinho, upon arriving in Faro with his Roma side, was bombarded with questions on his future from a pack of waiting journalists but did not respond at all. 

Fernando Santos was sacked on Thursday after his side’s shock World Cup quarter-final exit

Video on social media shows the high-profile boss, formerly of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United, steadfastly ignoring the media’s questions.

Mourinho, who won the inaugural Europa Conference League trophy with the Italian side in May, then smiles as he picks up a microphone cover from the floor and hands it back to a journalist, before climbing aboard a team bus with his players.

There has been speculation Mourinho could ‘job-share’, keeping his current role at Roma while also taking charge of his home nation, although doing both is extremely rare.

He has strong knowledge of Portuguese football, a good pedigree of winning trophies at the top level and has the clout to help manage big players with big reputations, for example Cristiano Ronaldo.

And video footage released on social media showed Mourinho ignoring questions on his future

He then smiled as he handed over a microphone cover that fell, before boarding the team bus

The Giallorossi travelled abroad for mid-season friendlies during the World Cup tournament

Former Portugal midfielder Maniche, who played under Mourinho at Porto and with the Blues, told Radio Renascenca that the 59-year-old would do a good job if he took over.

He said: ‘He is an experienced coach who is very prepared for difficulties because he knows our football and football abroad, he is intelligent and knows how to deal with young people. He has already adapted…