José Mourinho: “Only a crazy person would leave Real Madrid and that’s me”

José Mourinho has spoken about leaving former club Real Madrid and current Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti.

“Back to Real Madrid to replace Ancelotti? If you know Florentino [Pérez], and I know him very well, he is super intelligent and has very clear ideas,” Mourinho told Rai 1.

“He already has a super manager, why think about another one? As a Madridista, as a man with a white heart and as an ‘Ancelottiano’, I hope the season goes fantastically. I am a Madridista and I hope Ancelotti stays there. He is the perfect coach for Real Madrid.”

Possible Ancelotti departure

Questioned about a possible departure of his counterpart and friend Ancelotti to the Brazilian national team in 2024, the Portuguese coach was clear. He added: “In my opinion, only a madman would leave Real Madrid when Real Madrid want him. And that madman is me, the only one who, after three years with the president, I loved so much, including José Ángel Sánchez, decided to leave. I am sure that Carlo will stay at Madrid because he is perfect for Real and Real is perfect for him.”

When Mourinho left Madrid he still had three more years left on his contract.

Florentino on Mourinho leaving

“Nobody has sacked anyone, it was by mutual agreement. It’s not nice that he’s leaving, but after three years we both agreed that it was time to break this relationship,” Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez said at the time, before the Portuguese returned to manage Premier League outfit Chelsea.