'I have been immensely proud to wear the badge of Manchester United': Jose Mourinho releases statement on sacking as he pops out to Harrods with Real Madrid considering whether to offer £18M-A-YEAR deal

  • Jose Mourinho's two-and-a-half year spell at Old Trafford ended on Tuesday 
  • Mourinho has returned to the family home having stayed in the Lowry Hotel
  • He pulled a face at the camera and batted away a reporter as he took a stroll  
  • Mourinho later said he did not want to go into details about his United departure 
  • Real Madrid reportedly want him to return to the Bernabeu on a bumper deal 

Jose Mourinho has released an official statement, saying he is 'proud' of his time at Manchester United, and reaffirming his silence on the manner of his dismissal.

Mourinho is back in London after being sacked by United, his tumultuous two-and-a-half year spell at Old Trafford coming to an end on Tuesday.

He has returned to the family home having stayed in the Lowry Hotel during his time in Manchester, and said he will return to management after he took a stroll on Wednesday afternoon.  

Jose Mourinho is back in London - and took a trip to department store Harrods on Wednesday

Jose Mourinho is back in London - and took a trip to department store Harrods on Wednesday

Mourinho says he will return to management after being sacked by Manchester United

Mourinho says he will return to management after being sacked by Manchester United

He was not keen to go into details about his dismissal by United on Tuesday morning

He was not keen to go into details about his dismissal by United on Tuesday morning

Mourinho initially refused to answer questions after being sacked by Manchester United

Mourinho initially refused to answer questions after being sacked by Manchester United

His tumultuous two-and-a-half year spell at Old Trafford came to an end on Tuesday

His tumultuous two-and-a-half year spell at Old Trafford came to an end on Tuesday

Mourinho has returned to the family home having stayed in the Lowry Hotel  in Manchester

Mourinho has returned to the family home having stayed in the Lowry Hotel in Manchester

His statement read: 'I have been immensely proud to wear the badge of Manchester United since the first day I arrived, and I believe all United supporters recognise this. Just as was the case with my previous clubs, I have worked with some wonderful people and I believe that some will be my friends for life.


'I know that you are all aware of my professional principles. Each time a chapter is closed I show my deepest respect and I don't make comments about my former colleagues. I hope the media will also respect my position and let me live my normal life until the moment I decide to return to football. Merry Christmas.'

Earlier, Mourinho was approached by Sky Sports News as he walked down the street, but he was initially not in the mood to discuss his future in management.

Asked about his next move, Mourinho said: 'No, you know me. You know me. Let me walk. I have nothing to say. You know me, if you want to walk with me then let's walk to Battersea. I have nothing to say.'

He looked unimpressed to be disturbed on his stroll, pulling a face to Sportsmail's cameraman before his rather disengaged interview with Sky's reporter. 

JOSE MOURINHO'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT IN FULL 

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Mourinho later went into more detail, having apparently making a trip to Harrods, as he returned home carrying a shopping bag from the department store.

He said his time with United is 'in the past' and that he did not want to dwell on his sacking, and instead look forward to a return to coaching.

Mourinho said: 'Manchester United has a future without me and I have a future without them. Why should I be sharing more now? Even with the supporters, any of my feelings. It's over. That's the way I've always been.

'I've been critical of managers that speak about details about what's happened and who is to blame. That's not me. I just want to finish like it happened yesterday and I'd like to say it's game over. I just hope you media respect this way for me to be.

'Until I get back to football I think I have my right to live my life like I do now. That's what I want to do. Manchester United is past.' 

He was dismissed after a chastening run of results and left United with the club in sixth

He was dismissed after a chastening run of results and left United with the club in sixth

Mourinho, however, was less than forthcoming when talking about what went wrong at Manchester United.

'You know me. I don't change, what I did when I left Chelsea is the same as what I'm going to do now,' he said.

'I keep the good things and I don't speak about anything that happened in the club. We could speak about so many good things, not as good, but that's not me. It's finished.'

Mourinho wore a grey tracksuit, with a blue cap and t-shirt, as he walked near his home in the capital city on Wednesday afternoon. 

He was dismissed by United on Tuesday morning, 48 hours after they lost 3-1 to rivals Liverpool to continue an abysmal start to the league season. United have just 26 points from 17 league games, their lowest ever tally at this stage of a Premier League season.   

He is reportedly wanted by Real Madrid, who he took charge of between 2010 and 2013

He is reportedly wanted by Real Madrid, who he took charge of between 2010 and 2013

However he could be set for a well paid return to football in the summer, with reports suggesting Real Madrid are keen to bring him back to the Bernabeu.

Spanish newspaper El Pais report Real would look to pay him €20million (£18m) annually after increasing an initial offer of €15m (£13.5m). Discussions have taken place since October.

Real are also reportedly planning to appoint him on July 1, as that would mean avoiding a €5m (£4.5m) penalty fee to United.  

Despite winning the EFL Cup and Europa League at Old Trafford, Mourinho saw his time at the club overshadowed by rocky relationships with the media, club officials and his own players, notably Paul Pogba. 

Pogba was among the United stars seen arriving at Carrington for training on Wednesday morning, 24 hours after Mourinho's controversy-strewn spell at the club ended. 

The 2018 World Cup winner looked in relaxed mood, sipping from a water bottle and checking his phone. He was reportedly high-fiving team mates in delight on Tuesday after hearing the boss had gone. 

Mourinho fell out with the likes of Paul Pogba, seen arriving for training on Wednesday

Mourinho fell out with the likes of Paul Pogba, seen arriving for training on Wednesday

Mourinho meanwhile already cuts a more relaxed figure than the tetchy manager often seen at United, joking that the reporter did not need to apologise for him walking as he attempted to cut in for a chat.

Home comforts would seem to be having an effect, after he spent 895 days in the Lowry Hotel, racking up a bill of nearly £500,000.

One Lowry resident, who did not wish to be named, told Sportsmail that Mourinho had a final meal on Tuesday lunchtime in the bar of the Manchester hotel when he returned from Carrington.

They said: 'It looked like he was doing his paperwork, having a snack and saying his goodbyes.

'He made a point of seeking some people out and it looked like he was in good spirits. A lot of the staff appeared to be upset and a couple went in for a hug.'

Mourinho leaves the Lowry Hotel on Tuesday - he is now back at the family home in London

Mourinho leaves the Lowry Hotel on Tuesday - he is now back at the family home in London

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