Mourinho will return to Real Madrid 'sooner or later,' says former president

It's just a matter of time before Jose Mourinho is roaming up and down the touchline at the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid's manager again, according to former club president Ramon Calderon.

With some questioning Mourinho's future at Manchester United, Calderon believes the manager is destined for a return to Madrid, where he managed from 2010-13, and cites his standing with current club president Florentino Perez as evidence of such a move.

"If this president is with the team for a few years, and I think he will be, Mourinho will be here," Calderon said, according to ESPN FC's Sam Marsden. "No doubt. It's the only coach the president has respected.

"For better or worse. I think he will be here - if he leaves Manchester, of course. But sooner or later, I think he will be here."

Adding fuel to Calderon's statement is Real Madrid's relatively underwhelming performances under manager Julen Lopetegui, who has failed to match the success of his predecessor, Zinedine Zidane. The former manager surprisingly announced his resignation in the summer after guiding Los Blancos to their third consecutive Champions League triumph.

Under Lopetegui, Real Madrid sit in seventh place after collecting just 14 points from their opening nine matches in La Liga.

Meanwhile, Mourinho, who won the league title and Copa del Rey during his three years in Madrid, will hope his side gets its season back on track against Everton at Old Trafford this weekend.