Jose Mourinho hints at Benfica exit as he claims Prestianni’s ‘career will end’ on european footballone condition
Lewis Oldham Jose Mourinho on the Benfica bench
Benfica boss Jose Mourinho has hinted that he could leave the Liga Portugal side, while he has offered a fresh verdict on Gianluca Prestianni.
Mourinhowas sacked by Turkish giants Fenerbahce at the start of this campaign but quickly returned to management with Benfica.
The former Manchester United, Spurs and Chelsea manager has won 20 of his 34 games in charge of Benfica, though they have exited the Champions League at the hands of Real Madridand sit third in Liga Portugal.
Benfica will move seven points adrift of table-toppers Porto if they beat Gil Vicente on Monday night, though Mourinho has hinted at his unhappiness at the club.
Speaking on Sunday, Mourinho has lamented the poor officiating in Liga Portugal, with this ensuring that there are two league tables: “real and virtual”, with the latter determined by referees making the correct decisions.
“There are real and virtual classifications. The real one is the one that counts, but, if we want to hold on to the virtual one, there is a fundamental difference,” Mourinho said on Sunday.
READ: Who is the top scorer of 2026? Kane bursts past Mbappe into early lead
The real one is the real one, but, as a leader of a group, I have to hold on also to the virtual one and that is a motivation for us. We know perfectly well what has been happening.”
Mourinho has also hinted that this issue could lead to him leaving Benfica in the near future.
“I want to stay at Benfica, but with a championship that is unique and where there aren’t two,” Mourinho added
“I don’t like playing at the same time the real and virtual championship. At this moment, we are playing two.
“I want to respect my contract with Benfica and if Benfica wants to stay with me for more years, I’ll sign without adding a single comma, but I don’t want to play two championships anymore.”
READ MORE: Arsenal in prime bottling position as Champions League favourites ranked
Mourinho has also made the headlines for backing Benfica star Gianluca Prestianni after the player was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the sides’ recent Champions League play-off first leg.
Mourinho has rightly been heavily criticised for taking this stance, but he has now backtracked somewhat and claimed that Prestianni’s career under him “will come to an end” if he is proven guilty of abusing Vinicius Jr.
“If my player did not respect these principles, which are mine and Benfica’s as well, then that player’s career with a coach named Jose Mourinho and at a club named Benfica will come to an end,” Mourinho claimed.
“I am not a scholar, but I am not ignorant either. The presumption of innocence is a human right, isn’t it?
“I stand by my opinion. If the player is indeed guilty, I will never look at him the way I looked at him before, and with me, it’s over.
“But I have to put many ‘ifs’ in front of it.”
READ NEXT: 16 Conclusions from Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea: corners, red cards, Declan Rice, Reece James, Robert Sanchez
Real Madrid Benfica
Related Articles
James Holland
Ruben Amorim ‘in pole position’ to join former club’s fierce rivals despite Man Utd nightmare
The 41-year-old had a tough spell at Old Trafford, but he is being lined up for a controversial next move, as per reports
Manchester United Benfica Will Ford
Rosenior channels Mourinho at Chelsea as three ‘bests’ expose Tottenham joke Tudor
Rosenior ‘can’t stop smiling’ after Reece James signed a new Chelsea contract as the Blues boss channels Mourinho and exposes Igor Tudor.
F365 Says Jose Mourinho Matt Stead
Kinsky joins the most humiliating substitutions ever, featuring Mourinho and ‘really angry’ Klopp
Igor Tudor took a page out of the books of Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp with his ruthless substitution of Antonin Kinsky against Atletico.
F365 Features Antonin Kinsky Ian Watson
Arne Slot next? Ranking the five post-title managerial sackings from fair to harsh as f***
Arne Slot isn’t in danger really, is he? That’s presumably what these five elite managers thought when they won the title too only to be axed…
F365 Features Arne Slot Lewis Oldham
Jose Mourinho told he ‘f***ed up’ as ‘clumsy’ Vinicius Junior stance was ‘huge mistake’
One of Jose Mourinho’s former players has claimed that the Benfica boss “f***ed up” with his stance on Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior.
Real Madrid John Obi Mikel Joe Williams
Ferdinand defends Mourinho over Vinicius Jr racism row: ‘He hasn’t got a racist bone in his body’
Rio Ferdinand has defended ex-Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho amid a backlash against the Benfica head coach’s handling of the Vinicius Junior racism row.
Real Madrid Jose Mourinho
Latest Football News
Tottenham player-manager one of seven interim ‘options’ to replace Igor Tudor
Ben Davies Harry Redknapp
Tottenham next manager timeframe revealed after Tudor exit as ‘Spurs man’ backed
Igor Tudor
Tottenham confirm Igor Tudor exit and tease ‘new Head Coach’
Igor Tudor Roberto De Zerbi
‘Not Harvard English’ – Toni Kroos confused by Geordie accent as brother Felix hails Newcastle ‘summer’
Toni Kroos
Hungary manager hits out at Arne Slot ‘nonsense’ after telling Liverpool boss ‘not to interfere’
Arne Slot Mailbox
Man Utd ‘in purgatory’ under Carrick as Klopp ‘logic’ dispels top replacement doubts
Michael Carrick
Carrick in or out? Man Utd would be stupid to rush manager decision
Michael Carrick Popular
Rashford, Foden, Gordon to Liverpool proposed as Salah debate rages on
Mohamed Salah Popular
Mo Salah is no Luis Suarez; the Liverpool fan verdict is in
Mohamed Salah Popular Premier League Table Full Table
#
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GD
PTS
View More
Mediawatch
Arsenal star ‘called out’ as Spurs handed ‘huge boost’ and World Cup ‘nightmare’ emerges
Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal face summer ‘transfer conundrum’ as Mo Salah ‘dream club’ revealed
Mohamed Salah Popular
Salah exit prompts ‘genuine concern’ about Premier League as two Liverpool mysteries solved
Mo Salah Popular
Arsenal season starting to unravel as ‘injury crisis’ hits at ‘worst possible time’
Copyright Notice: The content of this article is contributed by Internet users. The views only represent the author. This site only provides information storage services and does not own ownership or bear relevant legal responsibilities. If you find any suspected infringement or illegal content, please contact us. We will delete it immediately after verification.