Mourinho: I was coaching real Ronaldo not Cristiano

José Mourinho sent a message to Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview with ESPN. "I was manager for the first time in the year 2000 but, before that, I was assistant in big clubs and with big managers and coaching the best players in the world. So I was 30 and I was coaching Ronaldo, not this one [Cristiano], the real one, the Brazilian Ronaldo", he said.

Mourinho also said that he told Florentino Pérez to sign Gareth Bale last season: "I asked the club to buy him last season but it was not possible. They told me that it was not the ideal moment and not the time to pay out so much money".

The Portuguese manager gave his view on the incredibly high transfer fee Real is set to shell out for Bale: "It looks like it is happening this season so I am happy for them because they have got a fantastic player but, of course, the numbers are huge numbers and the kid has to go now and there’s pressure to prove that he’s worth that investment."

Mourinho went on to say that he believes Real Madrid "is not just a club. Real Madrid is politics" and stated that the past season had not been "so bad" despite finishing with only one title – the Spanish Super Cup: "I know that Real Madrid is a special club. It is not just a club. Real Madrid is politics. Real Madrid is not only about football or sports; it's about many things around."


/Marca/