The Sun is reporting that the long-awaited return of Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho to Chelsea is a done deal, but the agreement will not be announced until the Portugese’s contract with Madrid expires on July 1. Rumors have circulated about the move for a while, but this would cement the return of the man they call “The Special One.”
The Sun quoted Dutch international Wesley Sneijder, who played under Mourinho at Inter. Sneijder said, “In Jose’s heart it goes his wife, his kids, then Chelsea. He has never made any secret about wanting to coach in England again — and when you hear him talk about Chelsea I don’t think he could coach any other team there. It sounds crazy, but when he talks about the Premier League and Chelsea, it’s like a kid who is telling his parents what he wants for Christmas.”
The deal is apparently somewhere in the ridiculous $15.5 million (£10 million) per year range, as rumors fly that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has agreed not only to bankroll Mourinho’s return by activating his release clause and giving him a silly salary, but the Russian billionare has agreed to provide Mourinho with a wish-list as well, which the new manager-to-be has provided.
That wish list is said to be topped by Radamel Falcao of Atletico Madrid, with Mourinho also looking to bring Sami Khedira and Fabio Coentrao with him from Real Madrid.
Following Real Madrid’s defeat to Borussia Dortmond in the Champions League semifinal, Mourinho gave his biggest hint towards a move back to Chelsea, saying “I know in England I’m loved. I’m loved by the fans, I’m loved by the media who treat me fairly...I know I’m loved by some clubs (in England), especially one.”
Mourinho managed Chelsea from 2004-2007, moving from the Portugese side Porto to the English giants. During his time at Stamford Bridge, he won Chelsea’s first league title in 50 years with a Premier League record points total of 95 and fewest goals conceded with 15. He also set the English record for most consecutive home league matches without defeat at 64, and won both domestic trophies with Chelsea, winning the FA Cup in 2007 and the League Cup in 2005 and 2007.
Mourinho managed Serie A giants Inter before moving to La Liga with Real Madrid.
