Jose Mourinho has insisted that his proposed move to Fenerbahce has not yet been completed but he confirmed his desire to join the club and looked ahead to their Champions League chances.
The Portuguese boss is set to replace Ismail Kartal at the Turkish giants in what would be his 11th managerial role.
Mourinho, 61, is set to succeed the Turkish boss after Fener finished second in the Turkish Super Lig for the third successive year. It is believed that Mourinho is to return to the game after being sacked by Roma in January after two-and-a-half years in charge of the Italian side.
The former Man United and Chelsea boss confirmed his intention to join the club this summer ahead of Saturday night’s Champions League final at Wembley.
‘Not yet,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘I decided I want to go but it’s not done yet. I cannot confirm officially but yes I want to go.’
‘It’s hard because there are three rounds to go in qualification,’ he continued on the side’s upcoming European Cup campaign. ‘And in Fenerbahce’s case, eight players are in the Euros and they are not coming for pre-season before the first round.
‘But if I go, you know that I like challenges. So if I go we’re going to fight to be in the Champions League.’
Mourinho is set to arrive in Turkey after Fener brutally finished second in the league despite amassing a mammoth 99 points, three points shy of their bitter rivals Galatasaray.
Mourinho will be tasked with bringing glory back to Istanbul, and his track record speaks for itself.
Despite leaving Roma after a poor run of form earlier this year, the sacking came only eight months after he guided them to the UEFA Europa Conference League title.
The legendary manager has only gone trophyless in one of his last seven roles in management, at Tottenham.
He has won multiple league titles in his career, triumphing in England with Chelsea, Italy with Inter Milan, and Spain with Real Madrid.
He also brought home the Champions League trophy in his final match with Inter in 2010.
Mourinho is believed to have earned around £80m from being sacked during his career. Reports said he pocketed £3m after being dismissed by Roma, some £16m less than when he lost his job at Manchester United.
