New Benfica sporting director Rui Costa has admitted the Portuguese giants may have failed in their bid to bring back Sven-Goran Eriksson. Rui Costa was unveiled as the sporting director of the Lisbon club on Wednesday, just two days after he retired from football while playing for the club.

At his official presentation the former Portugal international spoke of his desire to "give this club everything it deserves", but admitted that negotiations with Manchester City boss Eriksson may have come to an end.

"He is one of an exclusive group of coaches who have the right profile to be coach of Benfica," Rui Costa said.

"But the situation doesn't allow us to hold out much hope and we have decided to look at other solutions."

The former England manager's future at Eastlands has been the subject of much speculation, with owner Thaksin Shinawatra expected to relieve Eriksson of his duties at the end of the current campaign and Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari widely tipped as a successor.

Eriksson earlier revealed he has been approached to coach Mexico but insists it is not the right time to make a decision on his future.

The Mexican Football Federation have been on the hunt for a new coach since they sacked Hugo Sanchez in March, and are reportedly after a high-profile European coach, having shortlisted Jose Mourinho, Atletico Madrid boss Javier Aguirre and now Eriksson.

"I was called from Mexico," Eriksson told Esto newspaper. "My agent is the person who analyses the contract terms.

"I can just say I was contacted. However, it's not the right time to make a decision."

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