The Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has been linked with an exit from the club at the end of the season. Recent reports appear to suggest that the Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has identified the German national team manager Joachim Loew as an ideal candidate to replace the Portuguese. However, the 52-year-old has rejected any speculation linking him with the Spanish club. Mourinho has overseen one of the worst league campaigns in the history of the club as they are 16 points behind the leaders Barcelona. Even if Mourinho does well in the European competitions, he is widely expected to get the sack in the summer.

Loew has a contract with the German team until the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but it is also thought that the German football Association are considering the position of the manager due to a recent run of poor results and the inability to perform well in the final stages of a major tournament. Despite getting extremely close to winning a major title, Germany have spectacularly collapsed in the latter stages of the World Cup and European championships. The team also recently threw away a four goal lead in less than 30 min of football.

“At some point, perhaps I may return to coaching at club level. Right now is not the time. I am incredibly proud to be national team coach, and this has given me great joy during all these years. I do not concern myself (with the rumours). This is just speculation, Jose Mourinho has a contract until 2016. I have a contract with the DFB until 2014. The best thing I could hope for is to become world champion with Germany before I leave,” said Loew. The 52-year-old was the assistant manager of Germany before being promoted to the main role.