Mourinho, who was in Accra commentating on the African Nations Cup, met with the Barca powerbrokers at the hotel he was staying in. Marca says no terms were discussed and that the meeting was held out of courtesy.

However, the encounter follows on from Begiristain's meeting in Portugal with Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes.

Holland coach Marco van Basten also remains on Barca's shortlist, while Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was mentioned in the Catalan press yesterday.