<
>

Mourinho welcome in Spain amid Real Madrid links - La Liga president

La Liga president Javier Tebas has said he would welcome the return of Jose Mourinho to Spain's top flight amid reports that the Portuguese coach could take over at Real Madrid for a second time.

Mourinho, who was sacked by Manchester United on Dec. 18, recently said it would be a "tremendous honour" to guide his former club again.

"He is a great coach and I don't think it would be bad for La Liga," Tebas told Catalan radio station Rac 1. "From a spectacle standpoint, it would be good, although I don't know which club he would go to."

Mourinho won La Liga, a Spanish Supercup and a Copa del Rey during his three seasons at Madrid and left Los Blancos on good terms with president Florentino Perez in 2013.

The 55-year-old was linked with the position earlier this month when Madrid coach Santiago Solari came under pressure after two winless games in La Liga to start 2019.

Tebas was also asked about rumours that Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar could return to Barcelona.

"It always helps a lot that big world stars return," Tebas said. "It didn't affect us that he left.

"We, at La Liga, work with a view of not having any stars. They are people and we would like them to continue [in La Liga.]

"But what we want is for the La Liga brand to be very strong just like the Premier League, which has been working for 20 years on its brand without having one of their players win a Ballon d'Or."

Tebas, meanwhile, announced that the second Clasico of the season between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu will be played on Mar. 2 at 20:45 p.m. local time.

Barca won the opening league Clasico 5-1 at Camp Nou despite being without an injured Lionel Messi on Oct. 28.