José Mourinho has poured cold water on speculation linking him with a potential return to Real Madrid, responding with his trademark irony when questioned by Portuguese media on Monday.

Asked directly about the possibility of returning to the Spanish giants, the former Madrid coach dismissed the rumors without addressing them head-on. “Don’t rely on me for soap operas,” Mourinho said. “There are good soap operas, but they are very long; if you miss one or two episodes, then you lose track. Don’t rely on me, because I don’t watch soap operas.”

True to form, Mourinho used humor and metaphor to avoid fueling the narrative, offering neither confirmation nor denial while making it clear he has no interest in playing along with ongoing speculation and the politics that currently exists in the club. The comments arrive amid renewed chatter about Real Madrid’s future on the bench, a topic that has once again placed Mourinho’s name in circulation with Xabi Alonso’s recent dismissal.