Cristiano Ronaldo believes Jose Mourinho is key to extending his Portugal career

Jose Mourinho is the only coach capable of repairing the rift inside the Portugal squad, created by Fernando Santos' high-profile falling out with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Now more than ever, Portugal needs its most infamous coach and his extraordinary ability to handle the media.

It has long been an aim of Mourinho's to manage a national team, and now at the age of 59 the time is right for him to take over his own, however onerous the task at hand may seem.

The Roma boss has never forgotten his Portuguese roots, setting numerous alarms to watch his country in action while away in Japan with his side.

And it is perhaps noteworthy that many of the leaders within the Portugal squad were quick to confide in Mourinho, sharing with him the more intimate details as the dressing-room began to fracture amid Santos' row with Ronaldo. In this way. the Special One could be the answer to the team's desperate communication issues.

No other manager can boast the in-depth, almost encyclopaedic knowledge of Portuguese football that Mourinho has, which makes him perfectly places to bring in and blood new talent in the national set up.

The Portuguese Football Federation is painfully aware of the bitter disappointment within the side after their shock quarter-final defeat, but the appointment of Mourinho could be the kickstart needed to usher in a new era of success.

Mourinho fits the bill but the fallout could be catastrophic

One of Mourinho's key strengths lies in creating a tight-knit and compact squad, but where he falls down is in his erratic relationships with his players and the media when things fail to go to plan.

Roma fans have begun to get to know him and are beginning to understand that his great strength - his personality - can often be his fatal flaw.

The case of Rick Karsdorp perfectly demonstrates how his over-zealous criticism can cause often irreparable tensions.

Tammy Abraham's slump is still unresolved and perhaps the 59-year-old's lack of confidence in his No 9 is a heavy contributor to the former Chelsea striker's loss of form.

In the Portugal hot seat he will have to revert to being a guiding influence on his players, rather than a volatile disciplinarian.

As a coach, Mourinho resents on-pitch theatrics, preferring to conduct his own drama in front of the cameras.

In Italy he has always courted controversy; in the last 18 months he has strung together an endless series of cautions and sending offs as a result of his tirades against officials.

Ronaldo would remain the key under Mourinho

Another thing in Mourinho's favour is the fact that he would be able to help Ronaldo to extend his own career in the national team until at least the next European Championships.

It is unclear what the future holds for the Portugal team, but with Mourinho in the dugout enthusiasm for international football would at least return for Ronaldo.

He may not win any popularity contests, but even at half his capacity Ronaldo's technical and tactical capabilities are unmatched. Mourinho could convince him that he has a future with the national set up, leaving the door open to participation at Euro 2024.

Mourinho alone can help repair Ronaldo's public image, and can quell his temper when things don't quite go his way, giving the Portuguese people back their idol.

This is something that the player himself is thought to be greatly appreciative of, and sees Mourinho as the key to his continued involvement with the Portugal side.

As reported by A Bola and Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho would be the preferred choice for both the players and the upper echelons of Portuguese football.

Even fans want to see the Special One at the helm of the national team - which failed to make it past the quarter-finals of the World Cup - but at the moment the main issue is his contract with I Giallorossi.

The Friedkin family have tied the 59-year-old down to a contract that is not up until June 2024, but if there is no renewal in the offing then he might take matters into his own hands and resign at the end of this season.

It is almost unheard of for a Serie A manager to take on both club and international duties, and although the task of convincing Mourinho to lead his country has already begun it is not quite so simple as the manager indicated his interest of what would be a radical job change.