Jose Mourinho Reportedly Snubs Real Madrid in Wait for Manchester United Job

Jose Mourinho has declined Real Madrid's offer of a return to La Liga and reportedly prefers the head position at Manchester United as he doesn't want to uproot his family from their English home.

The Portuguese was sacked by Chelsea in mid-December, and Tomas Andreu of Spanish daily Sport claimed Mourinho has now "ruled himself out" of the running to replace Real Madrid incumbent Rafa Benitez. 

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According to Andreu, "no other proposal" could satisfy Mourinho at present, not even that of Paris Saint-Germain, and he "will wait patiently for one of the big English clubs—especially Manchester United—to offer him a deal."

The Red Devils are without a win in their last eight games, but the Mirror's Liam Canning believes United have missed their chance to move for the tactician:

Van Gaal's place at Old Trafford is in doubt following this season's downward spiral in form, with United sitting sixth in the standings, nine points off the summit and just one point above 10th-place Stoke City.

Yet despite the drop in standards, Van Gaal should be given more time to prove his credentials, according to predecessor David Moyes, who appeared on BT Sport's Clare Balding Show (h/t Pete Oliver of the Daily Express).

Moyes said:

"

After Sir Alex the job was going to be very difficult. It was going to take time to rebuild. It was a rebuilding job at Manchester United. You've got to remember David Gill [also] left. He was a big influence. 

What Manchester United stand for is they keep their managers, they've always supported their managers.

I hope they stick with Louis van Gaal, he deserves more time. It's still a work in progress for him.

"

It's been two-and-a-half years since Mourinho left the Santiago Bernabeu to join the Blues in his second spell at the Stamford Bridge helm, after reports emerged of a dressing room divide with some Real players.

The 2015-16 season has been a hectic one for Los Blancos, who are currently two points below La Liga leaders Barcelona, to whom they suffered a 4-0 defeat at home in November.

Benitez has also come under fire for Madrid's expulsion from the Copa del Rey, a competition the club may still be in were it not for Denis Cheryshev being fielded in the round of 32 as an ineligible player.

ESPN3 broadcaster Juan Arango doesn't believe reappointing Mourinho is the right step for the Spanish giants after he won just three trophies in his three-year reign at the club between 2010 and 2013:

Manchester United would present a fresh challenge for Mourinho, not to mention offering him the chance to take over the domestic rival of one of his former clubs for the first time since he left Porto.

The pursuit of revenge over old club Chelsea may be one of the motivating factors in his decision to hold out for the Red Devils, but keeping his family content in their English home is reported to be the ultimate decider.