Jose Mourinho says he was not surprised by Cristiano Ronaldo renewing his contract at Real Madrid as he felt it was logical for such a “fantastic player” to remain at the “fantastic club”.
Mourinho -- who clashed with his fellow Portuguese during their final
year together at the Bernabeu -- made the comments during a video
conference call on Monday with old friends from Madrid youth team
Canillas, where the Chelsea boss’ son played during the family’s time in
Spain.
“It seems normal to me,” Mourinho said. “When a fantastic club has a
fantastic player, a divorce does not make much sense. I think that
Madrid have done very well to renew him and keep a player with fantastic
numbers. I do not want to comment on Cristiano’s personal choice, but
it seems a very normal choice when you are at a club like Madrid. It is
the end I expected.”
Mourinho had also had issues with goalkeeper Iker Casillas during his
time at the Bernabeu, and had controversially relegated him to the
bench. His successor, Carlo Ancelotti, has also selected Diego Lopez as
his No. 1, although the Italian has saids he has found the decision difficult.
Mourinho, though, said he was no longer concerned about the issue.
“I do not care who is in goal [for Madrid],” he said. “It is not my
problem if Ancelotti manages it well or not. I did not see the
Villarreal game as I was travelling, but they told me Diego played a
great game and I was happy for him. If Casillas plays against
Galatasaray I hope he does the same."
Prior to the signing of Diego Lopez in January, Antonio Adan had briefly
taken Casillas’ place in goal, but he was released from his contract
earlier this month.
Mourinho said that the fact that the 26-year-old -- seen by the Spanish
media as collateral damage from last season’s internal feuding at the
Bernabeu -- was now left in limbo without a club was not really his
concern.
“You have to make your stories with someone else -- that is all over,”
he said. “Adan will find a club soon, and I hope all goes well for him.”
Mourinho said a return to the Bernabeu bench was very unlikely, and that he hoped for a long stay at Chelsea.
“It was a good period at Madrid,” he said. “My club in Spain is Madrid. I
will always be with them, except when they take on Chelsea. I do not
think I will return to Madrid -- I am where I want to be, and where I am
happiest. I will not leave Chelsea for personal reasons, only when
everyone at the club is in agreement, when we all think that is enough,
or there must be a change made.”
He also stressed it would be up to Spain coach Vicente del Bosque to
determine if Chelsea's Fernando Torres and Juan Mata were getting enough
game time to be ready for next summer’s World Cup.
“That is for the Spain coach to decide,” he said. “Sometimes players are
called up who have not played [for their club]. I just stick to my own
work. They are two top professionals, good players, and they will play
more or less.”
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