Football agent Ioan Becali has claimed that Jose Mourinho rejected a "blank cheque" to take over as China's national team manager.

The 56-year-old was sacked as Manchester United boss in December and is aiming for a return to football before the start of next season.

Mourinho is believed to be a prime target for Real Madrid, who are almost certain to part company with Santiago Solari, and he appears to be holding out for that position to become available.

Becali, a close friend of Mourinho, is quoted by The Mirror as saying: "We met up to have breakfast in a hotel next to his house and he told me told that he had received an offer from China to take charge of the national team and they put a blank cheque in front of him.

"He told me, 'I am 54 years old, I want to work five more years in Europe and after I turn 60 I'll go to China'."

Mourinho departed United on the back of their worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign, leaving the club 11 points adrift of the top four.

Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, however, they have overturned that deficit and now occupy the final Champions League qualifying spot.