Mourinho says he once signed to replace Ferguson at United before returning to Chelsea

A recent documentary about Jose Mourinho's career includes his confession that he signed a contract to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013. After leaving Real Madrid, he was set to join United but called Ferguson that evening, tearfully admitting he would honor his commitment to Chelsea instead. Ferguson confirmed he had believed Mourinho was on board until the last-minute reversal.

Mourinho recounted his affection for United, ranking it close to Real Madrid, yet emphasized that love for a specific club outweighed pure football ambition. He also referenced his earlier successes at Chelsea, including two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups, before returning to the club amid a dispute with owner Roman Abramovich. Currently back at Real Madrid, Mourinho said the choice was driven by his heart and that acting out of love is never wrong.