Manchester United target Jose Mourinho: 'Starting next season with a new club and project is probably the best thing for me'

Jose Mourinho has set out his plans to return to football in the summer, rather than jumping into Louis van Gaal's job at Manchester United before the end of the season.

The former Chelsea manager had planned an immediate return to management after being sacked in December, but now says he wants to wait for the right project.

Mourinho's revised schedule would facilitate a move to Old Trafford at the end of the current campaign, ready to put the foundations down for a new era starting in August.

Jose Mourinho would prefer to wait until the summer before taking over in a new job after leaving Chelsea

The Portuguese coach was speaking in Singapore as he completes commercial commitments in his time off

Mourinho is greeted by fans at the NorthLight School before a Q&A event followed by a shirt signing session

Louis van Gaal is under pressure at Manchester United with Mourinho lined up as a potential replacement

The most-likely solution would now appear to be Mourinho stepping in for Van Gaal at the end of the season

Van Gaal lifted the pressure slightly with a win over Shrewsbury but his job status remains under scrutiny

Having spent the weekend in Italy – where Inter Milan director Bedy Moratti appeared to confirm his Manchester-bound status – Mourinho is now in Singapore completing commercial commitments.

And speaking on Wednesday, the 53-year-old played down any talk of a return to football before the end of May.

'I always feel that it's better to wait, not to rush, better to be calm, to wait for the right moment, the right move,' Mourinho said. 'I feel that starting the next season with a new club and project is probably the best thing for me.

'It's quite a funny career. I am the English champion, and I still have no job.

'I read so many different things. One day it says I go to China, another day it says I go to Italy, and people say I'm back to Inter Milan. I'm here – probably, you are saying I will go to the Singapore national team.

'But the reality is I have no job, and at the moment I'm happy not to have a job.'

Mourinho's stock has certainly not fallen since he left Chelsea, with fans keen to get hold of his signature

The former Chelsea manager poses for photos with students from the NorthLight School in Singapore

Mourinho was the centre of attention in Milan at the weekend and is now in Singapore for commercial work

Inter Milan director Bedy Moratti (left) - sister of Massimo Moratti (right) - spoke on Mourinho's future plans

Mourinho's contented stance contrasts with his previous public declarations that he would be keen to take up a new role as soon as possible.

In his first statement after being sacked by Chelsea, the in-demand manager's representatives, CAA, said: 'He will not be taking a sabbatical, he isn't tired, he doesn't need it, he is very positive, and is already looking forward.'

But with the future of his former mentor Van Gaal looking shaky, the preference would now seem to be to start a new cycle of employment in the summer.

Mourinho was said to be wary of upsetting the Dutch coach who he first worked under at Barcelona in 1997 and an off-season change could represent a more-favourable option.

Valencia owner Peter Lim was Mourinho's host for the special event in Singapore on Wednesday

Mourinho greets United manager Van Gaal on a visit with Chelsea to Old Trafford in October 2014

The pair first worked together when Mourinho (third right) was an assistant to Van Gaal (left) at Barcelona

Inter director Bedy Moratti, sister of former club president Massimo Moratti, further fuelled the Mourinho-to-Manchester talk at the weekend after enjoying a meal with the former Nerazzurri boss.

She told reporters: 'We had a good time, he's great. He's missed as a person, but right now he's happy, he's going to Manchester.'

Mourinho was at Singapore's Northlight School as a special guest of Valencia owner Peter Lim.

He spoke to students in a Q&A session for around 15 minutes before signing shirts as he continues to enjoy time off after his Chelsea exit.

The Portuguese coach was sacked by owner Roman Abramovich on December 17 just seven months after leading the London club to the Barclays Premier League title.

Chelsea had lost nine of their 16 league games and were 16th in the table, one point above the relegation places.

Their fortunes have changed, to an extent, under his replacement Guus Hiddink, with the Blues now 12th, nine points clear of the bottom three.

Mourinho remains the front-runner to take over from under-fire Van Gaal at United, while assistant Ryan Giggs is also being considered for the role. 

Mourinho waves to Inter Milan supporters at the San Siro on Saturday as he made his return to Italy

Inter fans produced a half-time 'tifo' display to honour the Treble that Mourinho achieved in Milan in 2010