The South African scored 18 league goals last season after he joined Rovers from Porto for £1.8million last summer.
Mourinho told The Sun: “Benni had a great first season. He quickly settled into the English game.
“He is the kind of striker every coach wants and I am no exception.
“I’ve worked with him successfully in the past at FC Porto. I do like Benni.
“I saw the possibility of us reuniting at Chelsea but he has a contract.
“I could tell that he wanted to play for me again because we had a wonderful time together.
“But Blackburn said he was not for sale and you have to respect that.”
