Mourinho reveals a shocking secret behind his refusal to coach Manchester

Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, manager of Real Madrid, revealed surprising details from his coaching career, confirming that he had already signed a contract to take over at Manchester United from Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, before backing out at the last minute due to his strong connection with Chelsea. Mourinho's comments came in a new documentary about his life and career in football, where he recounted for the first time the details of the agreement that would have taken him to Old Trafford years before he officially took charge in 2016. The Portuguese coach said that after leaving Real Madrid, he signed a contract to manage Manchester United, succeeding Ferguson, noting that he felt immense pride because of the English club's historical stature and global appeal. Mourinho added that Manchester United possesses an exceptional allure, emphasizing that while he considers Real Madrid the biggest club in the world, he sees Manchester United as being very close in terms of prestige and history. Mourinho explained that his love for football is different from his attachment to a specific club, indicating that his feelings for Chelsea played a decisive role in changing his decision. He said it wasn't just about football, but also his need to feel loved, especially after his experience with Real Madrid, which ultimately led him to renege on his agreement with Manchester United and return to Chelsea. The documentary revealed that Mourinho informed Sir Alex Ferguson of his decision in an emotional phone call, during which the Portuguese manager was crying, emphasizing that he couldn't accept the job after giving his word to Chelsea. For his part, Sir Alex Ferguson spoke about the incident in the documentary, explaining that he had believed Mourinho would accept the Manchester United job before the situation changed within a few hours. Ferguson said that Mourinho called him early in the evening, crying, and told him that he couldn't accept the offer because he had given his word to Chelsea and didn't want to go back on it. The Scottish manager indicated that he understood Mourinho's reasons for making this decision, despite feeling deeply disappointed, especially since he saw him as a suitable successor at Manchester United. Mourinho enjoyed a special relationship with Chelsea, having led the club to a host of titles during his first spell, most notably two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and two League Cups. After leaving Real Madrid, Mourinho decided to return to Stamford Bridge, setting aside his past disagreements with then-owner Roman Abramovich, to begin a second stint with the team. During his return, the Portuguese manager successfully guided Chelsea to a Premier League title and a League Cup victory before being dismissed in December 2015. Years later, in 2016, Mourinho finally became Manchester United's manager, succeeding Dutchman Louis van Gaal, and spent approximately two and a half years at the helm. During his time with United, Mourinho won the English League Cup, the Europa League and the Community Shield, before leaving the club in December 2018. The story of 2013 reveals a different side of Mourinho's career, showing that his move to Manchester United was close to happening three full years before his actual arrival at Old Trafford, but his emotional attachment to Chelsea changed the course of one of the most prominent stories of managers in English football.