{
  "id": 459456,
  "title": "I signed Man United deal in 2013 before joining Chelsea, Mourinho reveals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/i-signed-man-united-deal-in-2013-before-joining-chelsea-mourinho-459456",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-10T10:52:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/i-signed-man-united-deal-in-2013-before-joining-chelsea-mourinho-reveals/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2013, former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho disclosed in his new Netflix documentary that he had signed an agreement to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at the club. The news surfaced after Mourinho left Real Madrid. He expressed his flattery at the opportunity, acknowledging Manchester United's immense appeal. However, Mourinho later changed his mind and joined Chelsea instead. Ferguson, who had retired at the end of the 2012/13 season, also appeared in the documentary. He recounted the moment Mourinho called him, crying, to inform him he would take over if Ferguson did not. Mourinho's reasons for changing his decision were understandable, but Ferguson felt disappointed. As a result, David Moyes succeeded Ferguson as Manchester United manager, while Mourinho eventually became United's manager in 2016, replacing Louis van Gaal.",
  "summary": "Jose Mourinho discloses in a new documentary that he signed an agreement to manage Manchester United in 2013, prior to his return to Chelsea. Read More: https://punchng.com/i-signed-man-united-deal-in-2013-before-joining-chelsea-mourinho-reveals/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Did Mourinho’s ‘need for love’ cost Man United success?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/did-mourinhos-need-for-love-cost-man-united-success",
        "published": "2026-08-10T10:27:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "I signed Man United deal in 2013 before joining Chelsea, Mourinho reveals",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/i-signed-man-united-deal-in-2013-before-joining-chelsea-mourinho",
        "published": "2026-08-10T10:30:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}