Coach Jose Mourinho to go to Spain after Inter Milan, Real Madrid agree on compensation
By APFriday, May 28, 2010
Mourinho set to become coach at Real Madrid
MILAN — Jose Mourinho is set to coach Real Madrid in a deal between European soccer powers, leaving Inter Milan less than a week after guiding the Italian club to the Champions League title.
The agreement was announced after a meeting in Milan between Madrid president Florentino Perez and Inter counterpart Massimo Moratti. Madrid will pay $19 million in two installments, the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport said.
Real Madrid said Mourinho will be introduced Monday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. He replaces Manuel Pelligrini, who was fired Wednesday.
Mourinho confirmed he wanted to join Madrid after Inter beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Spanish capital last Saturday to win the Champions League.
In two years with Inter, Mourinho led the club to two league titles, one Italian cup and its first European Cup since 1965. Before that, he led Chelsea to two Premier League titles. He also won the Champions League with FC Porto of Portugal in 2004.
Mourinho is a defensive-minded coach and questions have been raised over how he will blend the attacking talents of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.
“We have to know what we have and apply it in the best possible way to create damage,” Mourinho told the Spanish daily AS. “Madrid has Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka who are very good on one-on-ones. We have to find a style of play that allows them to do that. The principles of play depend on the players you have.”
Madrid has won nine European Cups but its last Champions League triumph came in 2002. Last summer, Madrid spent large sums on Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema but failed to progress past the first knockout round of the Champions League.
“I think Madrid have signed me because they know that they can demand aims in the short term, but that I am also capable of leaving a base for the future,” Mourinho said.
“I want to leave a mark at this club, not only with titles but with other things. I promise from my first day that I will bring out the best in the players, that I will take care of them.”
