Mourinho reveals the inside story of why he refused to succeed Ferguson in 2013.

In his latest Netflix documentary, "Mourinho," current Real Madrid manager José Mourinho reveals for the first time a long-buried secret of the football world.

After Mourinho left Real Madrid in 2013, he had officially signed a contract to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United, but ultimately reneged on the contract with tears in his eyes because he chose to return to Chelsea.

In this documentary, Mourinho personally recounts the moment of decision he made back then. In an interview, he said: "When I left Real Madrid, I had actually already signed a contract with Manchester United and was ready to take over the coaching position left by Sir Alex Ferguson."

"Manchester United has an incredible appeal, but the love for a particular club is stronger than the love for football itself. After leaving Real Madrid, what I need most is to feel loved."

As one of the parties involved, Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson also confirmed this dramatic turn of events in the documentary. Ferguson recalled: "He called me that evening, and he cried on the phone."

“He told me, ‘Alex, I can’t take over because I’ve made a promise to Chelsea and I can’t go back on it.’ Although I understand his reasoning, I was really disappointed at the time.”

Mourinho previously led Chelsea to numerous accolades, forging an unbreakable bond with the club's fans. Although he later took over as manager of Manchester United in 2016, he still doesn't regret his decision in 2013 to forgo directly succeeding Ferguson.

"It's certainly regrettable to have missed the opportunity to succeed Sir Alex, but I have no regrets, because it was a choice made in accordance with my heart. When you make a decision out of love, you will never make a mistake," Mourinho admitted.

Image source: Internet/Sky Sports official website