Jose Mourinho has firmly ruled out any prospect of returning to Real Madrid, employing a characteristically colourful metaphor to distance himself from the Spanish giants' ongoing difficulties.
Speaking to Portuguese broadcaster Sport TV, the current Benfica manager made his position abundantly clear.
"Don't count on me for soap operas," Mourinho stated.
"There are good soap operas, but they're very long. You miss one or two episodes and then you lose track. Don't count on me, because I don't watch soap operas."
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The 62-year-old's remarks come as Madrid find themselves engulfed in supporter unrest following a turbulent period at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The club dismissed Xabi Alonso from his position following their Spanish Super Cup final loss to Barcelona, with reports suggesting tensions had developed between the former midfielder and his squad.
Former Galactico Alvaro Arbeloa stepped into the role, but his tenure began disastrously when Madrid were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Albacete, a struggling second-division outfit, on Wednesday.
Jose Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013
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The Spaniard secured his maiden victory as manager on Saturday, guiding his side to a 2-0 triumph against Levante.
However, supporters at the Bernabeu expressed their frustration during the match, jeering and brandishing white handkerchiefs while the score remained level at the interval.
Arbeloa acknowledged the supporters' right to voice their displeasure following a difficult week for the club.
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He emphasised that his achievements as a player counted for little in his new role, stating he must now earn the fans' respect as a manager.
The new coach also defended president Florentino Perez, who faced chants and jeers from the crowd alongside winger Vinicius Jr — the first such protests against Perez at the stadium since Rafael Benitez's tenure in 2015.
Arbeloa insisted the criticism of Perez originated from those who oppose Real Madrid rather than genuine supporters, describing the president as the most significant figure in the club's history alongside Santiago Bernabeu himself.
Jose Mourinho is currently managing Benfica in Portugal
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Mourinho and Perez reportedly maintained a strong working relationship during the Portuguese manager's spell at the club from 2010 to 2013, when he claimed La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
However, Perez has previously been non-committal about the possibility of rehiring his former coach.
The pair will meet again later this month when Benfica host Madrid in the Champions League's league phase.
Who comes out on top remains to be seen.