“Character matters more than trophies”

The spotlight is once again on Jose Mourinho. Lincoln Henrique, a former Fenerbahce midfielder, has publicly criticized the Portuguese coach, accusing him of showing little respect during their brief time together in Turkey.

Speaking to Fanatik, the 27-year-old Brazilian made it clear that reputation and silverware do not excuse poor man-management.

“He didn’t keep his word with me, he broke his promise,” Lincoln said.
He added: “He’s won countless titles, no one denies that. But with me, he showed a lack of character. In life, character is more important than championships — at least for me.”

The episode that fractured the relationship

According to Lincoln, the situation escalated during pre-season. After finishing his loan spell with Hull City, the midfielder was already in Portugal, expecting to join Fenerbahce for their training camp, as previously agreed with Mourinho.

Instead, events took an unexpected turn.

“Before going to Hull City, I spoke with him and he told me he wanted to see me at the pre-season camp in Portugal. When the season ended, I was waiting for the call — but it never came,” he explained.

Despite being just minutes away from the squad, Lincoln was told to return to Istanbul and train separately.

Silence, intermediaries and a lack of dialogue

What frustrated Lincoln most was Mourinho’s refusal to speak to him directly. The Brazilian claims he tried to reach out through a translator, only to be shut down.

“He told me to say whatever I wanted to the sporting director. The team was in Portugal and so was I, yet he still sent me back and told me to train apart with Miha Zajc.”

For Lincoln, that decision symbolized a clear lack of respect from a coach of Mourinho’s stature.

Feeling abandoned and denied opportunities

Lincoln also recalled playing out of position and pushing through a serious injury, only to feel unsupported by the coaching staff.

“I always did my best for the club and the team. I’m not a star player, but I gave everything on the pitch and I loved wearing this shirt,” he said.

Upon his return, he felt genuine chances were never offered, ultimately sealing the breakdown in the relationship.

Lincoln Henrique’s remarks reignite the conversation around Jose Mourinho’s leadership style — a coach synonymous with success, but often surrounded by controversy. This time, the criticism goes beyond tactics or results, focusing instead on something Lincoln believes outweighs any trophy: personal integrity.

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