Luka Zahovic open to chance of playing for the Seleção
That Portugal have a chronic problem in producing top-class strikers is no secret. Could an 18-year-old going by the most un-Portuguese name of Luka Zahovic be the answer to the Seleção’s problems up front in the near future?
Son of former Vitória Guimarães, FC Porto and Benfica attacking midfielder Zlatko Zahovic, Luka was born in Portugal where he lived his early childhood while his father was playing in the Primeira Liga.
And speaking to the press after scoring against Sporting in the Champions League last night, Zahovic junior admitted: “If I received a proposal to play for the two national sides I would have to think hard about it, but I’d probably choose Portugal.”
Portugal coach relieved of his duties by the Portuguese Football Federation
Paulo Bento is no longer the coach of the Seleção. The Portugal boss has paid the price for an underwhelming World Cup qualifying campaign, a poor showing at Brazil 2014 and the dreadful performance in the opening Euro 2016 qualifying match last Sunday, which ended in a 1-0 defeat at home to Albania.
The Seleçao began their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign at the Estadio Municipal de Aveiro with a miserable defeat to lowly Albania. With Cristiano Ronaldo sidelined due to injury, Portugal once again failed to prove that their coherency as a team doesn't depend solely on their illustrious talisman.
Despite all of the new faces in the Portuguese side, Paulo Bento stayed true to form by choosing a relatively familiar starting eleven with Nani and Vieirinha on the wings, and Éder at striker. André Gomes was preferred in the holding central midfield role over Raul Meireles while Ricardo Costa deputised for the injured Bruno Alves. Nani was named Portugal's captain in Ronaldo's absence.
In the wake of Portugal’s disappointing World Cup performance, coach Paulo Bento has made wholesales changes for the opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Albania next week.
Ruben Vezo, Ricardo Horta and Pedro Tiba all get their first call-ups, while the return of Anthony Lopes, Antunes, Adrien Silva, André Gomes, Bruma and Ivan Cavaleiro represents nine new faces in relation to the squad that went to Brazil. Captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the squad because of lack of fitness.
Mourinho could make a sensational return to Madrid [Getty Images]
José Mourinho is no stranger to headlines, but stories in the early part of this week surrounding a potential return to Real Madrid has seen the Portuguese the subject of feverish attention across the football world.
Real Madrid are likely to be searching for a new manager once again this summer. A forgettable season, which began with the arrival of former player Xabi Alonso as new coach, will end without a major trophy for the second successive term. Alonso was dispatched from his position in January, replaced by interim boss Álvaro Arbeloa, who is now also expected to leave at the end of the campaign.
The list of potential successors is thought to contain three or four names, but the recent suggestion of Benfica boss Mourinho as frontrunner has accelerated into a major story. Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano stated earlier this month that Mourinho was keen on the idea of a return to the Spanish capital, later adding that his inner circle of close associates had been informed.
Chief among those was no doubt Jorge Mendes, Mourinho’s trusted agent and one of the most high-profile operators in football. According to Romano, Mendes is now working on a deal to secure a sensational return for Mourinho to the Santiago Bernabeu, where he spent three seasons between 2010 and 2013.
Pérez to take the lead
The story was given significant legs on Tuesday when reputable outlet The Athletic ran an article claiming Mourinho is the preferred candidate of Real Madrid’s long-serving president Florentino Pérez to replace Arbeloa. Mourinho and Pérez have maintained a strong relationship despite their separation in 2013, while Pérez is known for a tendency to bring back previous managers.
Pérez, 79, has often switched between taking a leading role in appointing managers and seeking advice or deferring to the opinions of others in the Madrid hierarchy. For example, the hiring of Alonso last summer is thought to have been made on the insistence of general manager José Angel Sanchez, meaning Pérez was happy to dismiss Alonso midway through the current campaign amid discontent within the squad.
Crucially, according to The Athletic and respected journalist David Ornstein, Pérez looks set to reassume his place as the driving force in the next appointment, with his tendency of going back to previous bosses, as was the case with Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti, a familiar trend in such circumstances.
The Athletic insist Pérez favours Mourinho for the upcoming vacancy, having appreciated the Portuguese’s efforts in competing with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona during his first spell in Madrid. In particular, Mourinho’s second season in 2011-12 was a memorable one for the club, as Real stormed to the Liga title, setting several records, including most points attained and most goals scored.
Real have made no comment on the speculation; neither has Mourinho, who was seen in Italy on Tuesday while undertaking commercial responsibilities. For their part, Benfica are reported to be keen on retaining their manager’s services, after a strong end to the season which has seen the Eagles become favourites for a runner-up spot in Portugal and subsequent Champions League qualification.
According to Romano, Benfica have indicated their willingness to begin preparations for next season with Mourinho, while a break clause in his contract, enactable by either side for a brief period in May, is something the Lisbon club have no intention of exploring.
