Casillas dismisses Mourinho speculation

Mourinho has said he wants to manage Portugal one day (GETTY IMAGES)

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas is confident coach Jose Mourinho will not be tempted into taking over as Portugal boss on a temporary basis.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) have earmarked Mourinho as the man they want to lead the national team for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Denmark on October 8 and Iceland four days later while they go about appointing a full-time successor to Carlos Queiroz.

Queiroz was sacked last week after being handed a six-month suspension for insulting anti-doping agents prior to the World Cup.

But Casillas believes former Inter Milan, Chelsea and Porto boss Mourinho has enough on his plate at the Bernabeu and will not be interested in taking on the role.

He said: "I think it would give him too much.

"I am sure he would like to coach Portugal but his head only thinks of Madrid.

"I don't think he will go. I have talked to him and his mind is set on Madrid."

Reports in Portugal yesterday claimed FPF president Gilberto Madail had travelled to Madrid to meet with Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes, in an attempt to broker a deal.

Former FPF president Joao Rodrigues has accompanied Madail on the trip, according to the reports, as he has good connections in Spain that could help secure Mourinho's short-term release.

Portugal are desperate to salvage their qualification campaign - having collected only one point from their opening two matches - as a failure to qualify would be seen as a huge blow to their bid to host the 2018 World Cup.