Jose Mourinho to Manchester United: Portuguese tells Inter Milan he is waiting for United post

The Portuguese has been linked with Roma, Real Madrid and a move to China since being sacked by Chelsea in December

Jose Mourinho, centre, was in attendance at the match between Inter and Sampdoria in Milan (Getty)

Jose Mourinho has informed Inter Milan he is not prepared to return to the San Siro because he is holding out for the Manchester United job, according to reports.

The Portuguese has been linked with Roma, Real Madrid and a move to China since being sacked by Chelsea in December but remains the odds-on favourite to succeed Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.

Mourinho was the guest of the Italian giants for the Serie A match against Sampdoria on Saturday but both parties were keen to stress his presence has no influence over the future of current Inter manager Roberto Mancini.

According to the Daily Express, the 53-year-old told his former employers he is confident of replacing Van Gaal and is waiting for the opportunity to do so.

United are currently six points adrift of the Premier League top four and lost to Danish champions Midtjylland in the Europa League round-of-32 on Thursday night. Inter director Bedy Moratti accidentally revealed on Saturday night that Mourinho “is happy, he’s going to Manchester United”.

The sister of former club president Massimo Moratti and honorary president of the supporters’ group Inter Club spoke as she left a lunch meeting with the Portuguese and her family.

“Of course he’s always fantastic and we missed him as a person here,” she said. When she was asked if that meant he might return to Inter, she added: “No, he’s happy now, he’s going to Manchester.”