The offer from Manchester United

In 2013, after José Mourinho left Real Madrid, the Portuguese was one of the main candidates to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Ferguson, who was retiring after 27 years at the helm of the club, considered him the ideal option. "He was offered the position, yes. I sat down with him and explained the situation. To me, he was accepting," recalled the Scot in the Netflix documentary Mourinho. However, the story took an unexpected turn: "One night she called me crying and said: 'Alex, I can't do it. I gave my word to Chelsea and I'm not going to break it."

The return to Chelsea and the disappointment at Old Trafford

Mourinho's decision led to the hiring of David Moyes, whose tenure lasted less than a year and left United in seventh place, far from expectations. Meanwhile, the Portuguese returned to Stamford Bridge, where he won the Premier League in the 2014-15 season, adding another title to his record. Ferguson admitted that he understood the reason, although he could not hide his disappointment at losing someone he considered the natural successor.

Mourinho's retrospective look

The coach finally arrived at Old Trafford in 2016, achieving the Europa League and the League Cup, as well as a second place in the Premier, the club's best campaign since Ferguson's departure. Today, looking back, Mourinho acknowledges that it was a decision made with the heart: "When I left Real Madrid, I signed to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex. But one thing is the love for football and another is the love for a club. That is more powerful. After Madrid, I needed to feel loved. Losing the opportunity to succeed Ferguson was dramatic, but I don't regret it."

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