However, the Special One could have extended his stay if he had wanted to, according to the Portuguese himself.
Arriving in 2010 to stop Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona machine, his team finished second in his first season, before managing to snatch the Spanish championship title for the first time in four years. Guardiola would leave that summer, but Barcelona would return to the top of La Liga in their final season, before returning to Chelsea.
CdS asked Mourinho if he had any regrets during his three decades in the game.
Perez wanted to keep it
“A lot, if we talk about matches. In terms of professional decisions, the “no” to Florentino (Perez)’s proposal to continue. He said to me: “Mou, don’t leave now, you’ve already done the hardest part, now the best part begins.” “I knew it was true, but I wanted to come back to Chelsea after three years of big challenges in Spain. »
Carlo Ancelotti then succeeded Mourinho, leading Los Blancos to their first Champions League in over a decade. The Portuguese manager retains great affection from many in the Spanish capital, but still divides opinion among some, who feel his methods were unworthy of the club – which is clearly not the case with Perez.
