Former Real Madrid sporting director has slammed ex-Los Blancos boss Jose Mourinho for his behaviour during the pair’s time at the club.
The duo coincided for just over a year at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Valdano was forced out in September 2011 because of his troubled relationship with the Portuguese manager. In an interview with El Hormiguero, the 58-year-old said he had very few fond memories of working with Mourinho, and that if it had been up to Florentino Perez, he would has stayed at the club.
Valdano said: “Jose Mourinho was always imagining things that weren’t there. I was not someone who blindly followed what he said. I was always willing to talk with him, but he systematically refused to talk to me. If it was up to Florentino Perez, I would have stayed at Madrid.”
Mourinho was in the Spanish capital for three seasons, and won La Liga in 2012. He also guided his team to Copa de Rey success in his first season, but Real never reached their ultimate goal of winning the Champions League under the Portuguese’s leadership. He made a move back to Chelsea in the summer.
And Valdano was critical of Mourinho as a manager, saying he wasn’t passionate about football as a game, but only the result.
“Guardiola is someone who has a passion for football. Mourinho only has a passion for the final result,” he stated.
