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Jose Mourinho was due back at Stamford Bridge on Monday night, ready to take his seat to watch Russia play Brazil in a friendly, the Daily Mail reported. 

Exactly where he was remained a mystery. Mourinho was on the guest list of the Brazilian FA, but there were no sightings of him braving the cold.

However, it may not be too long before Mourinho is back in even more familiar surroundings: the Chelsea dug-out and the home dressing room.

According to sources close to the self-anointed Special One, Mourinho is once again the chosen one. He is the man Roman Abramovich wants to succeed interim manager Rafa Benitez and a deal, say those sources, is as good as done.

This is not something anyone can confirm. Not when Mourinho remains the manager of Real Madrid, and the Spaniards remain in the hunt for the European Cup this season. But Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to return to England and the pouting Portuguese coach rarely speaks without an agenda.

‘I cannot deny what is clear in my mind,’ Mourinho said recently. ‘After Real Madrid, England, that’s for sure. I keep saying the same, I know clearly.’

He said he could manage ‘everyone’. That he is ‘a professional’ who would have to consider offers from other English clubs should they come.