Jose Mourinho has joked that he is tired of seeing Carlo Ancelotti’s face around Real Madrid after the former manager paid close attention to the club’s Brazilian players.
Ancelotti, now head coach of Brazil, wanted to speak to Vinicius, ask about Rodrygo’s progress and check how Eder Militao was developing, Mourinho said in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, with his comments published by AS.
“Ancelotti is wonderful,” Mourinho said. “He wanted to talk to Vinicius, and he wanted to know how Rodrygo was doing, how his level was developing and how Militao’s development was progressing.”
Endrick was injured at the time, and Ancelotti also asked Mourinho for permission to visit him.
“But you are crazy, Carlo,” Mourinho added. “But that is also Carlo.”
The Real Madrid manager then joked about the number of images of Ancelotti displayed at the club.
“Carlo, I have had enough of you,” he said. “Every day I walk along the corridor and find pictures of Ancelotti here and there. I have really had enough of you.”
Mourinho also reflected on his departure from former club Roma, admitting that leaving the Italian side had been deeply painful.
“My departure broke my heart,” he said. “There is not, and there will never be, a single word from me against Roma or the club’s owners. When I leave, I leave with a clear conscience and with the feeling that it will always remain my home.”
He recalled the welcome he received when he first arrived in the Italian capital, despite having achieved nothing with the club at that stage.
“On the day I arrived, thousands of people were there to welcome me, even though I had not done anything yet,” Mourinho said. “I do not deserve that, but that is Roma.”
Mourinho said his commitment to the club’s supporters had been total and highlighted the importance of winning the Conference League, a competition he considers particularly significant for a club that does not often collect major victories and trophies.
“I fought for the fans, I gave everything I had, and we won a trophy such as the Conference League,” he said. “It is a competition of enormous importance for a club that does not achieve many victories and trophies.”
Mourinho is due to return to Roma next Wednesday in the Champions League. He said he would need to prepare himself emotionally for visiting the club without the backing of the Giallorossi supporters.
“I have to prepare myself psychologically, because it will be the first time I go there without the support of the Giallorossi fans,” he said. “I do not expect chants or banners, but a great deal of respect.”
