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Jose Mourinho dismisses talk of Real Madrid return as he targets new Manchester United contract

Jose Mourinho dismisses talk of Real Madrid return as he targets new Manchester United contract

Jose Mourinho has dismissed links with Real Madrid – insisting he wants to sign a new contract at Manchester United.

The Portuguese has emerged as one of the favourites to succeed under-fire Julen Lopetegui as the Spanish giants’ season has unravelled.

But Mourinho, whose own future has been the subject of intense scrutiny, is adamant he wants to stay at Old Trafford for the long term.

Asked to respond to suggestions Real president Florentino Perez wants him back at the Bernabeu, the 55-year-old said: “My future is here – I have a contract and until the final of my contract I only think about Manchester United.

“I am happy to stay here longer than that.”

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United host Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with Mourinho’s position still the focus of speculation after United’s troubled start to the campaign.

But it appears he still has admirers in Spain.

Ross Barkley’s injury time equaliser for Chelsea on Saturday robbed United of a much-needed morale-boosting win – but Mourinho has called on his players to respond to that disappointment against the Italian champions and the returning Cristiano Ronaldo.

He said: “Against Chelsea, there were contradictions in our feelings because by one side everybody was happy with collected performance, but not the result. There were contradictory feelings.

“I told the players to get the best out of these feelings, that pride and confidence and way that we play and by the other side use that anger to motivate yourself to play a big football match.”