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Mourinho has revealed his conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation.
Jose Mourinho has claimed he was the Portuguese Football Federation’s first choice for the role of national team manager.
Portugal recently announced Roberto Martinez as their new manager, replacing 2016 European Championships winner Fernando Santos.
Jose Mourinho, manager of AS Roma, has revealed that he was the first choice for the job but turned it down.
Portugal wanted Mourinho
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager was speaking after Roma's cup win over Genoa on Thursday, where he confirmed the Portuguese FA's interest in him, as reported by De Telegraaf
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"I would first of all like to thank the president of the federation," Mourinho said
“What Fernando Gomes told me made me very happy and made me proud. He said that I was not only the first choice as the new national coach, but that I was also his only choice and that is why he would do anything to bring me back home.
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“It was an honor, but I finally decided not to take it. I'm here in Rome, that's what counts."
Mourinho turned down Portugal
Mourinho's Roma advanced into the next round of the Coppa Italia after their 1-0 win against Genoa on Thursday.
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They are still involved in the Europa League and would play a knockout round against Salzburg.
Roma are also only three points away from the top four in Serie A.
Mourinho is very committed to the Roma project, and he tattooed last season's Conference League trophy they won on his arm.
He believes he is building something with Roma, hence felt he had to turn down the call of his nation
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