Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s time at Manchester United was far from a fairy tale. The Armenian midfielder, now a key player for Inter Milan, has revealed in his new book the tense episodes he experienced under José Mourinho, who not only sidelined him from the team but even sent him messages asking him to leave the club.

Messages, tension, and an inevitable split

Mkhitaryan joined Manchester United in 2016 from Borussia Dortmund after a stellar run in the Bundesliga. His £27 million signing sparked great expectations among the Old Trafford faithful. However, his spell in England quickly turned turbulent under Mourinho, as their relationship deteriorated almost immediately.

In the book, the player recounts how the Portuguese coach pressured him to depart. “During training, he wouldn’t say a single word to me. Absolute silence. But at night, he would send me WhatsApp messages: ‘Miki, please leave.’” Mkhitaryan recalls. “I always replied the same thing: I’ll leave if I find the right club. But by January, the message changed: ‘Miki, please go so I can sign Alexis Sánchez.’”

The tension reached its breaking point during a face-to-face confrontation. “He told me I was garbage, and I lost my temper. I told him: ‘You’re the garbage— and a big one.’ He shouted for me to get out and said he never wanted to see me again,” Mkhitaryan remembered. Shortly after, he left the club in a swap deal with Arsenal, which brought Alexis Sánchez to Old Trafford.

Mourinho’s new chapter in Portugal

While Mkhitaryan’s book reopens old wounds, José Mourinho is now writing a new chapter in his career. He currently manages Benfica, marking a return to the city where his legend began. This Sunday, his team drew 0-0 with Porto in the Portuguese league classic, ending the Dragons’ perfect run and leaving Benfica in third place with 18 points.

Despite his reputation as a ruthless strategist, accounts from players like Mkhitaryan once again highlight the intense and often abrasive methods of the Portuguese coach. For some, that approach builds champions; for others, it leaves scars that never fully heal.

One thing is certain: the “Special One” continues to make headlines—whether from the dugout or the pages of a book—reminding everyone that, for better or worse, he remains one of football’s most polarizing figures.