“I knew it was true” - Jose Mourinho names decision to leave Real Madrid and re-join Chelsea as one of his two biggest regrets in career

Legendary manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that his decision to leave Real Madrid and re-join Chelsea is one of his two biggest regrets. The Portuguese head coach managed Benfica and Porto early in his career, leading Porto to UEFA Champions League glory in 2004.

Chelsea signed him up that summer, and he led them to the Premier League and the League Cup twice in his first stint. After his time at Stamford Bridge, the manager left for Inter Milan, where he won the Champions League in 2010.

His impressive achievements led him to the Santiago Bernabeu, as Real Madrid hired him that summer. He won three trophies in as many years but failed to clinch the Champions League. Speaking about his time at the club, Jose Mourinho told Corriere dello Sport (via Daily Mail):

"The "no" to (Real Madrid president) Florentino Perez (is one regret). He said to me: 'Don't leave, you've done the hard part, and the best part is yet to come.'"

Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge after that, spending two years before getting sacked in December 2015, despite winning the Premier League and League Cup. He spoke about it:

"I knew it was true, but I wanted to return to Chelsea after three years of great challenges in Spain."

Jose Mourinho would go on to manage Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Roma before joining Fenerbahce in Turkey last year.

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Real Madrid and Chelsea in battle amidst other European giants for Ayyoub Bouaddi

Real Madrid and Chelsea are among the European clubs who are interested in the highly rated Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 17-year-old midfielder plays in Ligue 1 for LOSC Lille, where his performances have put him on the radar of bigger clubs.

The teenager broke through the Lille academy, entering their first team in 2023. This season, he has played 18 games, including five in the UEFA Champions League, scoring one league goal. The likes of Arsenal and Barcelona, alongside the Blues and Los Blancos, have marked the youngster as a future prospect, according to TBR Football (via Hard Tackle).

With his contract at Lille expires in 2027, the French giants will look to keep the youngster for a few more years. The 17-year-old has also gotten a call-up to the France U-21 squad, giving clubs like Chelsea and Madrid more reason to make their move.