Jose Mourinho has insisted he will return to the Barclays Premier League.
Far from issuing a parting shot at his former adversaries after leaving Chelsea by mutual consent on Thursday morning, the Portuguese signed off from three years at Stamford Bridge by expressing his love for every facet of the English game.
Although he is adamant his next job will not be in the country, or his homeland, he left the door well and truly open for a second stint on these shores.
‘Yes, for sure I want (to),’ he said on Sky Sports News when asked if he would return to England.
‘I don't want it in my next step. I don't want to leave Chelsea's and go immediately to another door. I think my next step must be another country, must be another experience, another football.
‘But I am 44, I hope I have many years in front of me. I love English football and I don't change a single word I've said before.’
Mourinho also had kind words for the referees, journalists and rival managers with whom he so often clashed.
‘One or another frustration with referees doesn't stop me saying (England has) very good referees, honest people. Some of them were calling today,’ he added.
‘The English press, if you understand their philosophy, it was very funny to play their game. Salt and pepper every day.
‘Other managers, great people, top people. Very supportive and very nice to me.
‘In football terms, a fantastic period of my career. I want to be back but not the next step.’
Mourinho was happy to agree with Chelsea's claim that the parting of the ways had been mutually agreed.
‘It is right that we are both happy,’ he added. ‘(Owner) Roman (Abramovich), Peter (Kenyon, chief executive), the top people at the club are happy, and I'm happy too.
‘I was not sacked and I didn't close the door. If I wanted to close the door I would do it before - at the end of season.
‘I gave my word to the supporters I would not go for another club. If Chelsea wanted to sack me they would do it at the end of the season and not at this moment.
‘So mutual agreement I think is the correct English for what happened.’
And in a statement which suggested he did not feel appreciated at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho added: ‘I am ready for every country, for every project, I just hope that the next one I am surrounded by love so I can express everything I have to express in terms of my qualities as a manager.’
The former Porto boss plans to learn Italian or German now he has more free time - but that is not necessarily an indication of his next move.
He added: ‘I have will have to choose between Italian and German, because French, Spanish and English are fine.’
