Jose Mourinho told to reject Premier League job and poetically finish Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career

Jose Mourinho may soon find himself at an intriguing crossroads where he must choose between his heart and his ego.

The Special One is clearly still able to mix it with the very best tacticians in the game even if opportunities with football’s elite appear to have dried up.

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The fire still burns and the tactical nous is still effective – even if it’s stylistically at odds with modern football. His current stint at Benfica shows that.

Mourinho is unlikely to be a title winner in Portugal this year but even in defeat he somehow manages to partially steal the headlines.

Benfica find themselves seven points adrift of Porto with four games remaining after Sunday’s stunning last-gasp derby win at Sporting.

The win saw the Eagles leapfrog their city rivals in the table and just as significantly, maintained their unbeaten league record.

An ‘invincibles’ tag is one of the last few accomplishments left for Mourinho to achieve in his storied managerial career, another one being manager of his native Portugal.

The 63-year-old has long been linked with a spell as Portugal head coach and it feels like the right time, if any, for him to lead his country.

Mourinho’s contract at the Lisbon club runs until the end of the 2026/27 season with reports suggesting he is keen to extend his deal.

However, other options are likely to present themselves in club and international football with Portugal likely to be among them.

Any movements on that front would have to wait a little while longer with Roberto Martinez set to lead a new golden generation of Portuguese talent at the summer’s World Cup when it begins in June.

Portugal are among the favourites to lift the trophy for the first time in their history and with star names such as Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes to carry on beyond the summer, Mourinho may be eyeing another way to write himself into the history books if Martinez leaves when his contract expires.

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On the other hand, one final Premier League hurrah in the could be too tempting to turn down.

Mourinho’s last spell in English football ended with a brutal Tottenham sacking just days before a League Cup final against Manchester City in 2021.

Links with a move to Newcastle continue to surface and Mourinho got a first-hand look at the reconstructed version of the club when the Magpies swept aside Benfica 3-0 in the Champions League in October.

And with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe’s future appearing uncertain, luring a manager of Mourinho’s calibre would be a huge statement of intent for the club’s ambitious Saudi owners.

A move to St James’ Park would also provide Mourinho with the opportunity to pit his wits at the highest level once more while helping steer the Magpies to greater heights.

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Portugal is the better option

But he has been urged to resist temptations of Newcastle’s project in favour of his fellow countrymen.

“I think Portugal’s a genuine possibility,” European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT. “I think that would be a better option for him if we’re not talking about money, if we’re talking about sport and legacy than Newcastle.

“I think Newcastle has got a big rebuild over it, ahead of it. And I think there’s too much for Mourinho to lose in terms of face there.

“I know he’s talked about taking over a team that’s a bottom half team. That’s not really what he had in mind, is it?

“Newcastle are bottom half, not because of their funding or their expectations, but because it’s been a really, really bad last couple of months.

“So maybe there’s a chance for Mourinho to lift them back to European qualification or whatever. But A, it won’t be easy. And B, if he does come in, it won’t be pretty either.”

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Two’s a crowd

And Should Mourinho opt for a switch into international management then there is likely to only be room for just one ego.

“It’s all set up for Jose Mourinho to come in as Portugal coach and very poetically finish Ronaldo’s international career,” Brassell said.

“He loves a villain arc and could there be more of a villain arc than that?”

Since making his national debut in 2003, Ronaldo, now 41, has become one of the greatest goal scorers of all time, closing in on 1000 career goals along with rival Lionel Messi, who may also see reduced minutes for Argentina.

He has 143 goals to his name for Portugal in 226 games and has scored for his country for 22 consecutive years.

If this is to be his final World Cup then he will take his place among some legendary names for the most appearances at the tournament.

Finishing on a win would not be a bad way to go.