Jose Mourinho has held talks with the richest man in China, Hui Ka Yan, over taking charge of the Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande or the Chinese national team.

Hui, who is the chairman of the Evergrande Group, rated the world’s most valuable real estate company, is a huge football fan and has dedicated himself to building up the country’s super league and also helping gain qualification for the World Cup.

The two men met over the Chinese new year with Hui determined to recruit the best in the world in an attempt to increase the standard and profile of Chinese football. Hiring a coach of the calibre of Mourinho would be a coup and a significant statement of intent.

Hui is well-known for his passion for football and has ploughed millions into developing the largest football school in the world in China in the hope that it will help the league and the national team. He is the most influential figure in Chinese football.

China have qualified only once for the World Cup, in 2002, but a development plan has been put forward with the aim of eventually making the country a “world football superpower”. Their current manager is former Italy coach Marcelo Lippi.