JOSE MOURINHO argued with Cristiano Ronaldo when he subbed off the superstar forward – but also transformed the forward’s career with a tactical tweak.
The Special One then revealed to Rio Ferdinand how he turned down an incredible job offer – and might even have managed England.
Mourinho, 61, was axed by Roma on January 16 after a dismal run that left the Italian giants ninth in Serie A.
But after leaving a bitter note in the dressing room in a final dig at his players, he sat down for an chat on Ferdinand’s FIVE podcast.
And one of the key discussions points was managing Ronaldo at Real Madrid – including dealing his superstar compatriot’s ego and desire to be the best.
Mourinho said: “You have guys like Cristiano, where you are playing against Levante and you are winning 5-0 and you tell the guy to relax and take a rest.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
“‘No, no, no, I can score one more goal!’ When you have guys like this, you know the boat is in the water and you just let the boat go and in the end you enjoy the fight.
“I think you don’t coach [him]. You don’t teach much, it’s about being happy and it’s about creating an environment from the tactical point of view, from the ideas of football, where the player can show.
“Cristiano, you know him as well as I do and almost in consecutive years. Motivation, you don’t need to give him. Ambition, you don’t need to give him. Technique, you don’t need to give him.
“You give some tactical adjustments and let the guy be happy.”
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Ronaldo made his name at Sporting then alongside Ferdinand at Manchester United as a tricky, speedy winger.
But it was during his time at the Bernabeu that he moved central into a No9 focused on finding the net time and time and time again – a record 450 times for Los Blancos.
And Mourinho is certainly claiming some of the credit.
He added: “Madrid for Cristiano was a little bit of a transition because for you [Ferdinand’s Manchester United] he was a winger – left winger, right winger, dribbling, attacking people, beating people.
“In Madrid, he became more the goalscorer that he was for the rest of his career.
“In fact, probably the first time he played a big match as a striker was Real Madrid vs Barcelona in a cup final where he scored an amazing goal with an amazing header in extra-time.
“Probably that was the first time people got the feeling that animal could be a goalscorer and not just a pure winger.
“Madrid was a bit of a hybrid because he was playing from the left but he was not wide and not chasing full-backs and we were protecting him with the balance being with Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira.
“That is the position when they can be more effective and score more goals.”
Mourinho also stunned Ferdinand by announcing some of the posts he rejected over the years, including the chance to manage the former centre-back.
The Portuguese gaffer said: “I refused great working opportunities.
“The first one was even very, very hard to refuse because it was Portugal.
“I could be their coach in the national team.”
He then added to Ferdinand: “Also yours, I had it there on the table.
“I didn’t because I gave everything in my heart, I gave options that even could be considered not very clever by the professional point of view.”
Ferdinand had his head in his hand and immediately replied: “No way.”
And the comment implies Mourinho could have either been Three Lions boss or maybe taken over at Old Trafford earlier.
He famously did step into the Red Devils hot seat in 2016 but that was two years after Ferdinand departed for QPR.
However, so far he has steered clear of international football – instead keeping his full focus on some of Europe’s top clubs.
Reflecting on his two-year stint at United, Mourinho added: “I loved my time there.
“I don’t think the media helped me.”
Mourinho led Roma in 138 matches – six short of his Manchester United tally – and won the inaugural Europa Conference League.
That included a record 7-0 thumping of Empoli in September 2023.
But a downturn in form saw Roma slide down the table and Mourinho got the boot.
In the trailer video, the clip ends with a teaser as Mourinho is asked what comes next for him.
The former PE teacher has already been linked with stunning return to Chelsea if Mauricio Pochettino is dismissed.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Reports he is learning a new language hinted he could be eyeing the Bayern Munich job – or even a move to Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Mourinho admitted it would be an “honour” to manage Lionel Messi before the Inter Miami superstar retires.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
