Ex-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is one of the most experienced and accomplished managers in the game today and a number of top clubs would love to have him at the helm. However, it seems that Mourinho has even turned down one of the best clubs in Europe to allegedly wait for his dream move to Manchester United. .
Jose Mourinho was apparently one of a three man short-list of potential managers that Real Madrid had in mind to replace Rafa Benitez, the other two being new manager Zinedine Zidane and youth system coordinator Victor Fernandez. He was reportedly approached for the job during the week he was sacked, according to Spanish publication El Pais, but turned down the job to wait for Manchester United to come calling in the summer.
Players don’t like Mourinho
Although Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was looking to sign the Portugese manager, both parties did acknowledge the fact that Jose Mourinho did not enjoy the backing of a certain group of players at the Santiago Bernabeu – a group including Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Pepe, Marcelo, Dani Carvajal and Cristiano Ronaldo.
This may also have hampered the deal as it would be playing in the mind of Perez, but the report suggests that contact was made and Mourinho made it clear that he would prefer to wait for the Manchester United job.
Zizou takes over
Rafa Benitez was given the sack this past Monday and club legend Zinedine Zidane was announced as the new manager of Real Madrid CF. Zizou had been managing the club’s youth side Castilla and was also assistant manager under Carlo Ancelotti.
Although the fans are very excited at the prospect of having one of their own legends as manager, his inexperience at management will be put to the test in the coming months.