Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho rejected a potential return to Real Madrid as manager, according to Guillem Balague.

Barcelona ensured Real ended the season without the domestic title as Lionel Messi’s solitary strike at Atletico Madrid earned the Catalan side a fifth La Liga title in seven seasons.

The result means Real have won just one Primera Division crown in seven years and their latest fruitless campaign - including a Champions League semi-final exit to Juventus - has brought Carlo Ancelotti's future further into question.

Balague claims Madrid had drawn up a list of potential replacements that included Chelsea boss Mourinho - a man who only ended an oft-tempestuous three-year spell at the Bernabeu in 2013.

“The idea is that Real now look for another coach – that is what normally happens when Real Madrid do not win,” he told Revista de La Liga after Barcelona's triumph.

“Real have spoken to Julen Lopetegui at Porto, to Jurgen Klopp, to Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho.

Carlo Ancelotti celebrates with the Champions League trophy last May

“They have already spoken to those four to see if they would be interested in coaching Real Madrid. They have spoken to Jose Mourinho - he said no to them, of course.

“Out of those four, Rafa is favoured by some but not others. Mourinho is favoured by some and not by others and Lopetegui is deemed as something for the future, but they have sounded out all of them.

“Klopp isn’t an automatic yes for the job, and it may be a little bit too early for Zinedine Zidane.

“There was a plan at the beginning of the season, but Real Madrid Castilla haven’t been doing too well so, again, there is doubt.”

The idea is that Real now look for another coach – that is what normally happens when Real Madrid do not win. Real have spoken to Jose Mourinho, I do not know what his reply was. However, at the moment, there is not a clear candidate to replace Ancelotti and he could stay. Guillem Balague

It is thought Ancelotti could stay for a further season at the Bernabeu if President Florentino Perez is unable to find a suitable replacement.

But Balague believes such a move could undermine the Italian's authority.

“The problem Florentino Perez is facing is that he’s not in love with anybody,” he added.

“He was in love with Mourinho when he brought him to the club, and he has loved other appointments.

“However, at the moment, there is not a clear candidate to replace Ancelotti and he could stay.

“But if you tell Ancelotti, ‘you’re going to stay because there is nobody else,’ what does that tell you about his authority next season?”

Watch Revista de La Liga live on Monday, 6pm, Sky Sports 5 HD