Soccer:Jose Mourinho made the Santiago Bernabeu feel like home as he led Inter Milan to victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. And after last night's house-warming party in Madrid the Portuguese coach revealed he is set to move permanently to the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid have long sought a coach to match their lofty ambitions and Mourinho has long been the man in their sights to return European glory to the Bernabeu.
Following their €250million outlay last summer, Madrid themselves had hoped to be celebrating a 10th European crown today.
That dream died long ago, but they were the hosts last night as Mourinho became champion of Europe for a second time and the welcome extended to the Inter coach was for a long-term marriage, not a one-night fling.
After leading Inter to an unprecedented treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles last night, Mourinho said: “It was difficult to leave Chelsea and it will be sad to leave Inter. Inter is my home in the same way Chelsea was my home. But that’s life, that’s football.
“Now I have two homes, Stamford Bridge and San Siro. And now I will have a third home - probably the Santiago Bernabeu.”
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona also secured a treble of league, cup and Champions League last year, before going on to win the Spanish and European Supercups and the FIFA World Club Cup to bag a record six titles in 2009.
It was thought that Mourinho, who has collected trophies for fun in his eight years with Porto, Chelsea and Inter, may look to emulate Guardiola and win all six for the Italian side.
But the Portuguese was scathing and dismissive of the other three titles on offer in the next six months ahead of the final on Friday and, having won the important three, he clearly feels now is the time to coach Madrid.
“If you don’t coach Real Madrid then you always have a gap in your career,” he said.
“Only Real are interested in me but I haven’t spoken with anyone and I haven’t signed anything. I promised I’d speak after the final.”
Mourinho flew back to Milan to celebrate last night’s triumph with his players, but Inter president Massimo Moratti stayed behind in Madrid, probably to thrash out a deal with Real boss Florentino Perez.
Mourinho said he would talk to Perez this week.
“The day after tomorrow (I will speak to him),” he said last night.
“I don’t know the project yet, so I have to hear the project. Real is an enormous club, a club that wants the same as me; I want to win, I want to feel important, I want to keep winning.”
Mourinho’s move looks set to be finalised in the coming days and the focus will then switch to the players the Portuguese will recruit to bring the glory days back to Madrid.
And Inter’s match winner Diego Milito is one man who could follow Mourinho to the Bernabeu.
“Let’s see what happens next year,” he said after scoring both of Inter’s goals and being named man of the match in last night’s final.
The Argentina forward claims he owes his own success to Mourinho.
“I don’t have words to describe how grateful I am to the coach for what he has done for me,” he said.
“He deserves this more than anybody. He is a great coach and he has worked so hard.”
Brazil full-back Maicon is another player tipped to make the move from Milan to Madrid with Mourinho, and the 28 year-old has admitted his interest in a transfer to Real.
“Madrid is a great club and everyone wants to play for big clubs,” he said.
Maicon revealed that Mourinho informed the players of his imminent departure after the game, but hinted at a future meeting between the two.
“He told everyone he was leaving, so we wish him all the best,” he said.
“But he didn’t say goodbye to me.”
Mourinho, meanwhile, believes he is leaving Inter in safe hands.
“The important thing for Inter is that (club president Massimo) Moratti and (captain Javier) Zanetti stay,” he said.
Zanetti, making his 700th appearance for Inter, became the first Argentinian to lift a European Cup as captain.
The 36-year-old, although euphoric at Inter’s success, revealed he will be sad to see Mourinho leave.
“I am really sad that Mourinho has decided to leave, but this is his choice,” said Zanetti.
“We must respect his decision, and unfortunately we are saying goodbye to a great coach and a great man.”