Jose Mourinho hits back at Antonio Cassano after the former striker claimed he 'doesn't give a s*** about football' following reports linking the Roma boss with a return to Real Madrid

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Jose Mourinho has hit back at criticism he received from retired striker Antonio Cassano.

Following reports linking Mourinho with a return to Real Madrid, Cassano said the legendary coach was just 'cinema' and claimed he 'doesn't give a s*** about football'.

Carlo Ancelotti, the current Los Blancos boss, is under contract until the end of the 2023-24 season - when Mourinho's deal in the Italian capital also expires.

Mourinho has now responded to Cassano's attack, as he said in a press conference: 'Everyone is free to have their preferences and make their criticism, but when talking about others, like Antonio does, it's different.

'Some of us work in football, he just wants to enjoy himself. Cassano played for Roma, for Inter and for Real Madrid. 

Jose Mourinho has given a scathing analysis of Antonio Cassano's career after the former striker criticised him as a 'cinema' coach

The 40-year-old said Mourinho 'doesn't give a s*** about football' amid links between the Roma boss and Real Madrid

'In Madrid he is only remembered for his jacket. With Roma he won a Supercoppa without playing. At Inter he didn't even manage the Lombardy Cup in a friendly.'

Cassano signed for Real in 2006 but failed to have much of an impact at the club amid rows with manager Fabio Capello, Mourinho's 'jacket' jibe was a reference to a flashy outfit worn by the striker for his unveiling in Madrid.

 The 'Special One' continued: 'You know what I won with Inter, Real Madrid and Roma. He might have a problem with me, I do not have a problem with him.

'I will tell Cassano just one thing: careful Antonio, for you are 40 years old and I am 60, at times Marko Livaja types turn up and then it gets tough.'

If Mourinho does return to the Bernabeu, it will be a chance to improve on a first spell at the club that yielded only moderate success.

He managed Real from 2010-2013, a spell that coincided with the peak of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona, and won just three trophies with the club.

The 60-year-old's resume as a whole is impressive though, as he boasts eight league titles and two Champions League wins.

Mourinho is also the only manager to win a major European trophy with four different clubs, with his Europa Conference League victory with Roma adding to trophies picked up with Porto, Inter Milan and Manchester United.

Mourinho won just three trophies in his first spell as Real boss as he came up against Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side at their peak