Mario Branco: “Neither Benfica nor Porto contacted me.”

Fenerbahce's sporting director was appointed to the two Portuguese teams, but he denied the existence of any talks in this regard

Portuguese Mario Branco denied the rumors that circulated last week, linking him to the position of sporting director at Benfica or Porto.

The Turkish press claims that the sporting director received proposals to return to Portugal

“If I said I didn't like it, I would be lying. I never had the opportunity to work for a big company in Portugal (…). “Once they talked about Porto and Benfica, it was clear that this had some influence in Portugal, but the truth is It is that, directly, I have not been contacted by either club,” Branko stated in statements to the program. Total football to Channel 11This Tuesday.

The manager, who spent time in Portugal at Leixues and Estoril, stated that it was a Turkish newspaper close to Fenerbahce's rival, Galatasaray, that started the rumours.

“There was a newspaper closer to our opponents that wrote this. It's because? My president has completed his second three-year term in office, his sixth year as president. We will have elections in the summer. I'm also terminating my contract in the summer. I am the only foreign sports director in the Turkish League, and fortunately I was honored for my work. So, they are putting pressure on my boss, why my contract will not be renewed or why I will lose.”

However, Branco did not want to rule out the possibility of one day coaching one of Portugal's major clubs, regardless of the club: “I don't have any preference. My favorite club is Lexusis, but as professionals we have to be at the same distance from everything and everyone. Obviously I liked it.”