Mourinho unlikely to take on Portugal role

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Jose Mourinho took charge at Real Madrid this summer

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has admitted it is unlikely he will take temporary charge of Portugal - but stopped short of ruling himself out entirely.

• Portugal want Mourinho
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) have earmarked Mourinho as the man they want to lead the national team qualifiers against Denmark on October 8 and Iceland four days later while they go about appointing a full-time successor to Carlos Queiroz, who was sacked last week.
Mourinho has admitted it is unlikely he will take temporary charge. In a press conference on Friday, reported on www.marca.com, he said: "If it were not for Real Madrid I would do it for free. But if you ask me right now if I can go, I think not. I have a contract with Real Madrid. I do not say no, but in the natural way of things, I do not think this is the time.
"Real Madrid have every right in the world to put an obstacle in the way. And if you put the slightest obstacle there, I can't go. To say no to Portugal is impossible because of my personal pride and my passion for Portugal, but at the moment I cannot say yes.''
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes former Inter Milan, Chelsea and Porto boss Mourinho has enough on his plate at the Bernabeu and will not be interested in taking on the role.
He said: "I think it would give him too much. I am sure he would like to coach Portugal but his head only thinks of Madrid. I don't think he will go. I have talked to him and his mind is set on Madrid.''
Reports in Portugal claimed FPF president Gilberto Madail had travelled to Madrid to meet with Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes, in an attempt to broker a deal.
Former FPF president Joao Rodrigues has accompanied Madail on the trip, according to the reports, as he has good connections in Spain that could help secure Mourinho's short-term release.
Mourinho continued: "The FPF have not contacted Real and what the club knows is through me. Portugal wants me for those two games.
"They know I will not have any players to train, with the exception of three, during the international break, while if I went, I would be coaching three Real players in Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Carvalho.
"They thought that Real would not lose out with my absence and that is why they want me for the national team.
"If I was a free agent, I would go tomorrow but I'm at Real and I cannot say yes because my duty is with them, but neither can I say openly no because that would be impossible."
Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes former Inter Milan, Chelsea and Porto boss Mourinho has enough on his plate at the Bernabeu.
He said: "I think it would give him too much. I am sure he would like to coach Portugal but his head only thinks of Madrid. I don't think he will go. I have talked to him and his mind is set on Madrid."