Jose Mourinho Says He Is Broke
Jose Mourinho Says He Is Broke
Jose Mourinho has made a surprising admission just days after being unveiled as Benfica’s new manager.
The 62-year-old says he is “broke” following his return to Portugal and insists that reports of a huge £15 million salary are far from the truth.
Mourinho, who signed a two-year deal with the Lisbon club, dismissed rumours that he is set to earn nearly £30 million over the next two seasons, per Daily Sports.
Instead, the former Chelsea manager claims taking the Benfica job has cost him money compared to what he would have earned by simply staying at home.
In his trademark blunt fashion, Mourinho downplayed talk of a lucrative deal and insisted he is in the red financially because he accepted the Benfica job, Daily Mail reports.
“If I had stayed at home until the end of the season, I would have earned more than I did at Benfica. It’s that simple,” he said.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss explained that he could have enjoyed time with his family in London or gone on holiday after getting sacked by Fenerbahce, but chose to return to management for the love of competition.
“I’m not even here for nothing; I’m in the red. And why? Because I really enjoy working. Staying at home is not for me.”
Mourinho said the lure of fighting for the Portuguese league title was key to his decision, claiming he missed playing for what Benfica is playing for, which is the title, as he could not do that in Rome or Fenerbahce.
Mourinho has already taken charge of two league games for Benfica, collecting four points from a possible six.
This marks his second spell at the Portuguese club after a brief 10-game stint back in 2000, which ended amid boardroom disagreement. This latest role with Benfica is the 12th stop in a hugely successful managerial career as Mourinho has won trophies in almost every country he has worked in.
The 68-year-old can boast of winning several titles, including Champions League titles with Porto and Inter Milan, league titles with Chelsea and Real Madrid, and cup victories with Manchester United and Roma. Despite his global success, Mourinho insists his decision to return to Benfica is about passion rather than money.
For the man nicknamed “The Special One,” money may not be the driving force; rather, reclaiming glory at the club where it all began seems to be his real motivation.
