Jose Mourinho was fully expected to return to Real Madrid after Los Blancos crashed out of the Copa del Rey, the La Liga title race and the Champions League in the space of a week.

Confirmation that Real would end the season trophyless meant that there was simply no way Santiago Solari would keep his job for much longer.

Mourinho was available and would surely jump at the chance of returning to the Bernabeu.

The Portuguese even spoke about the rumours by saying: “Would I go back to a club I’ve been at before? If I thought it was the right club, right structure, the right ambitions, no problem at all. It is a reason of pride when a club where you worked before wanted you to come back.”

But within days, Real Madrid announced the return of Zinedine Zidane.

What next for Mou?

Well, he was asked that question and he insisted that he wants to return to management this summer - and has already turned down ‘three or four offers.’

“It’s been three-and-a-half months since I last managed a club and I am preparing to do it again,” he told beIN Sports France.

“When you are in the world of football, between Press conferences, games, video sessions, match analysis and daily problems, you never have time for yourself. I have therefore used the last few months to reboot.

“The position of a Coach is special and I enjoy the daily work. I want to return this summer, starting from June, for the beginning of the season.

“I know exactly what I don’t want, which is why I have already turned down three or four offers. I also know what I do want. I don’t mean the name of the club, but the type of work, the style of club. I know what I want and I hope to get it.”

We’d love to know which clubs those ‘three of four’ offers have come from.

But one thing is for sure, it sounds like Mourinho is close to a return to management.