Jose Mourinho: Former Chelsea and Man United boss set for sensational return to management in China after secret talks

Jose Mourinho has held secret talks with the richest man in China, talkSPORT can today reveal.

Pictures have emerged of Mourinho meeting Hui Jiayin – the most influential figure in Chinese football – to discuss a sensational return to management.

Mr Hui is the chairman of Evergrande Group, which finances Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande, and is committed to bringing the best names in football to the Far East.

The billionaire real estate developer, who is said to have a strong ambition to inspire China to reach the World Cup and perform with honour, had positive discussions with former Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid manager Mourinho recently, with the opportunity to manage Evergrande and the national team both on the table.

It is not yet clear if Mourinho favours the club job or the national team role, but talkSPORT understands he is close to accepting the chance to resume his career in China.

The signing of Mourinho – one of the most successful managers of all time – will be among the biggest in world football and demonstrate China’s ambition to be a force in the game.

Other leading coaches, including Fabio Capello and Sven-Göran Eriksson, have managed in China while Rafa Benitez recently took charge of Dalian Yifang, but Mourinho would be the greatest capture yet.

Mourinho has been out of management since leaving Manchester United in December 2018.

He endured a disappointing spell at Old Trafford but boasts an incredible record, having won 26 major honours over the course of his 19-year managerial career.

Who is Hui Jiayin?

Jose Mourinho has been pictured meeting with Hui Jiayin, one of the richest men in China and a key player in Chinese football. But who is the billionaire? talkSPORT gives you the lowdown…

• Mr Hui was born on October 9, 1958 in Taikang County, Henan, and attended Wuhan University of Science and Technology. He later worked for Wuyang Iron and Steel Company and the Zhongda trading company, before founding the Evergrande Group in March 1997.
• The Evergrande Group is China’s second-largest property developer by sales, and was in 2018 the world’s most valuable real estate company. Xu made much of his fortune as founder and chairman of the company.
• As of June 2019, Xu’s net worth was $30.4billion (£24.3billion).
• The 60-year-old is married and has two children, and lives in Shenzhen.
• Xu became involved in football when the Evergrande Group purchased Guangzhou Evergrande in 2010 following their relegation from the Chinese Super League due to a match-fixing scandal. They have since pumped significant funds into the team, with seven CSL titles and two AFC Champions Leagues won in the nine years since. Guangzhou Evergrande were also the first Chinese club to take part in the Club World Cup, doing so in 2013 and again two years later.

Mourinho recently said he was ready to return to management this summer.

Speaking in May, the 56-year-old said: “I have a lot of qualities and one of them is to respect other clubs and their management.

“I have never spoken like ‘this club wanted me, they contacted me’.

“When I left Manchester United in December, I immediately took the decision I want to work from the summer.

“I hope to be back to work in July in a project I really like.”