Jose Mourinho’s departure from Chelsea has dominated the agenda of the Portuguese media, who expect the manager to either head home to Benfica or pursue interest at Inter Milan.

O Jogo, the daily sports paper, claims to have an inside line on the story. Although Chelsea have claimed that the decision to part was reached by mutual consent, it reports that Mourinho dictated the terms of his departure. As a result, the newspaper says he will walk away with far less money than had he been dismissed.

“Dissatisfied with various situations that had developed at the club, Mourinho placed his resignation request on the table, and that was immediately accepted by the London club, which set a date of today [Thursday] to discuss terms,” it said. “It was Mourinho who initiated the move, but ... there is room for a financial settlement between the parties, though that will be far from the figure that he would have been due had he been dismissed from his contract [lasting until 2010].”

A Bola, the sports paper, is in no doubt who called the shots. Under the headline, “Mourinho Quits Chelsea”, it suggests that the Champions League tie with Rosenborg on Tuesday precipitated the decision by Mourinho to call it a day. Its sources have confirmed that the whole Mourinho entourage will leave Stamford Bridge, including Baltemar Brito, Silvino Louro, Rui Faria and André Vilas-Boas.

It reported: “After having had a great impact soon after his arrival in England, with two Premiership titles to his name, José Mourinho entered a less positive period last season, which brought to the surface differences of opinion with the owner of the club, the millionaire Russian, Roman Abramovich.”

Recent results “precipitated the departure of the Portuguese coach ... and all that is left is to talk terms.”

24 Horas, the daily newspaper, carries a front page headline stating: “Mourinho warns his players he is about to be sacked.” O Record conveys the coolness between Mourinho and the club. “Without explanation or thanks for the job he did, Chelsea announced Mourinho’s departure in a short statement,” it stated.

The majority of comments on the internet are supportive of Mourinho, but there are also comments about “the arrogance of the Special One” who “lacked respect for other coaches”.

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