Jose Mourinho has admitted he could have reinstated Cristiano Ronaldo: I made the mistake of refusing. I believe another offer will come

José Mourinho is currently out of a job. Everything could have been completely different. He could have reinstated Cristiano Ronaldo and other big stars, but he refused. He has now admitted that he regrets it. But he believes in a positive future.

In December 2022, the Portuguese national football team decided to make a big change. After failing at the World Cup in Qatar, Fernando Santos left the coaching post after eight long years.

One of the men mentioned among his potential successors was José Mourinho, at the time still coach of AS Roma, where he was until January this year when he was sacked and replaced by club legend Daniele De Rossi.

The Portuguese strategist did indeed receive an offer from the Portuguese national team at the time, but turned it down. Roberto Martínez is now the head coach of Portugal and will lead the team at EURO 2024. Cristiano Ronaldo will not be missing from the squad, but the Iberian team has other big names in the squad.

José Mourinho, by rejecting the national team’s offer, has lost the opportunity to win a major international trophy with his country. Until now, he hasn’t spoken much about it. However, he recently revealed that he regrets it.

José Mourinho regrets turning down the national team

First of all, in an interview with EA Sports Korea, José Mourinho reminisced about his recent stint in Rome. He reached two European Cup finals with AS there and, as he admits, it was tough. In fact, he says they were the toughest trips to the finals he’s experienced. He won one final and lost the other.

But that’s in the past. What’s next? One day he’d like to lead the Portuguese national team. “I’ve already had two chances to take it over, but the offers didn’t come at the right time for me. When I turned down the last offer, it caused me a lot of emotions. I decided to stay in Rome and I think it was a mistake,” Calcio Mercato quotes him as saying.

“Portugal now has a fantastic team. One of the best, definitely in the top five. I know that, but I felt a great connection with Rome, with the fans. I didn’t want to make that decision. I could have led Portugal twice, but I believe a third offer will come and I will take it then,” he added.

“I hope that the generation I have at my disposal will be as strong as the one Roberto Martínez has at his disposal,” José Mourinho concluded the topic.

Source: Calcio Mercato, Transfermarkt