Real Madrid 'approached Jose Mourinho over sensational return'

Real Madrid ‘approached Jose Mourinho over a sensational return to the Bernabeu’ before appointing Carlo Ancelotti despite the ex-Tottenham boss only taking Roma job last month

• Real Madrid brought Carlo Ancelotti back to the club as their new manager 
• But Los Blancos reportedly spoke to Jose Mourinho about a return too 
• The former Spurs boss was approached despite recently taking over at Roma 

Real Madrid held talks with Jose Mourinho about succeeding Zinedine Zidane as their new manager, despite him only recently taking charge at Roma, reports claim.

The Portuguese boss – who coached Los Blancos between 2010 and 2013 – was sacked by Tottenham in April with the club slumping out of European contention, but quickly found work with the Serie A side the following month.

And even though he is settling into life in the Italian capital, the Telegraph report that his former employers sounded him out about the possibility of taking the job once again last week.

Real Madrid reportedly approached Jose Mourinho to take over as manager last week despite recently taking over at Roma

Madrid president Florentino Perez (L) was turned down by his former boss Mourinho 

Madrid have been aware that Zidane was set for the exit door for some time, before the Frenchman officially announced his departure following the end of the LaLiga season – penning a savage open letter criticising a lack of support from chief Florentino Perez.

The club approached Mourinho a second time, holding talks over the weekend, the report adds, but the Spanish giants quickly turned their attentions to Carlo Ancelotti – another former manager – after Mourinho’s camp conveyed that he had little interest in a return.

The 58-year-old, who won LaLiga and the Copa Del Rey at the Bernabeu, has just signed a three-year deal with Roma and remains excited about the project ahead of him.

Madrid quickly turned their attentions to Carlo Ancelotti after Mourinho declined them

Mourinho had spent just 17 months at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but was sacked just days before the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, with rumours the atmosphere in the dressing room had grown toxic amid concerns over his style of play.

The former Chelsea boss is now hoping to turn over a new leaf in Italy after replacing Paolo Fonseca. 

‘Thank you to the Friedkin family (Roma’s owners) for choosing me to lead this great club and to be part of their vision,’ he said after joining.

‘After meetings with the ownership and Tiago Pinto (Roma’s general manager), I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions for AS Roma. It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project over the upcoming years.

The Portuguese boss spent three years at the Bernabeu and won LaLiga and the Copa Del Rey

‘The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next season.’ 

Perez had been keen to move quickly to replace Zidane after being left furious with his words in the open letter, and Ancelotti’s return is a signal that a former manager has no problems in returning to work under him.

The move leaves Everton scrambling for a new manager ahead of the new season, with Nuno Espirito Santo now the leading contender to take over at Goodison Park.

Sportsmail understands the former Wolves boss is in talks with Everton while out in his native Portugal, with the coach also considering the vacant job at Crystal Palace.

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