JOSE MOURINHO has tipped Alex Ferguson to remain as Manchester United manager for another 20 years.

Mourinho is back at Old Trafford with Inter Milan ahead of tonight’s Champions League last 16 decider.

It is his first competitive outing in England since he was dumped by Chelsea 18 months ago and the build-up has been dominated by talk that he could one day return as Ferguson’s successor.

Mourinho hastily rejected the authenticity of quotes attributed to him suggesting that he would be the automatic choice as Ferguson’s replacement.

Indeed, while the former Stamford Bridge chief did nothing to dispel anyone from the thought he will one day return to Old Trafford permanently, his tongue was only half in his cheek when he claimed Ferguson is going nowhere for quite a while yet.

“In 20 years maybe,” smiled Mourinho when asked if he might eventually become United manager. – “I think Sir Alex might be here that long. He is tough, he is strong, he is happy, he loves it and he wins. Let him be here for another 20 years. I hope he is.”

Certainly Mourinho did not give the impression of a man in love with life in Serie A and the specifics of a chat with former United stalwart and current Everton skipper Phil Neville at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel last night would be intriguing.

Not that Mourinho was shedding any light on the chance meeting in a place Inter were staying and Neville owns an apartment.

“He wants to be a manager in the future and we were speaking about the difficult job I have and the one he wants to have one day,” he said.

Although he has often spoken about the tactical battle of Italy, it seems deep down Mourinho’s preference is for the more passionate arena of Premier League combat, where the desire to win is so strong. He also decried an element of negativity about the Italian game which he feels does not exist in England.

Inter’s last-16 misery only stretches back two years – they reached the quarter-finals the year before that – although that is long before Mourinho’s time with them.

Mourinho was a virtual unknown only five years ago when he brought his Porto side to Manchester at exactly the same stage of the Champions League and left with a score draw thanks to Costinha’s late goal that knocked Ferguson’s side out.

Porto went on to win the tournament, launching the careers of Ricardo Carvalho, Deco, Ferreira etc, and the manager, who promptly left for Chelsea.

“Because of that goal we could win the competition,” reflected Mourinho. “Without it we wouldn’t have even reached the quarter-finals.

“Porto was under my skin because it was my team. I made it from day one. It was a team I started with kids. We were champions of Portugal in that first season, then we won the Uefa Cup, the year after it was the Champions League.

“It was a great achievement with a group of boys nobody respected too much. To come here and beat Manchester United, then win the competition, was something fantastic.

“That was the goal that opened doors in England and my career was never the same again,” added the Inter boss.