Jose Mourinho has appeared to weigh in on the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo debate.
The new Fenerbahce manager has answered a series of quickfire questions in newly-released footage from TNT Sports, filmed at Wembley, where the 61-year-old, a little under two weeks ago worked a pundit for the Champions League final.
He was speaking before flying off to Turkey to officially be announced as Fenerbahce manager, where he has taken over since leaving his role at Roma last season.
One of the questions presented to ‘the special one’ was one player he wishes he had signed in his career, and, after naming Messi, inadvertently gave his verdict on whether he feels he is better than Ronaldo.
Jose Mourinho has weighed in on the GOAT debate between Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Lionel Messi (right)
Mourinho (pictured) revealed Messi is the one player he wishes he had signed during his managerial career
He coached Ronaldo for three years when he was manager of Real Madrid, winning the LaLiga title once
‘Of course I would say the little guy,’ Mourinho responded. ‘But the little guy was not coachable.
‘But I have to say, in our generation, he was the best.’
Mourinho worked with Ronaldo between 2010 and 2013 at Madrid, coaching his fellow Portuguese star and winning one LaLiga title.
He has never worked with Messi, but nonetheless picked out the former Barcelona man as the best player of recent times.
Elsewhere in the questions, Mourinho picked out the San Siro as the best stadium in the world, described himself as ‘funny, honest and forever young’, and said that he cooks ‘an amazing scrambled eggs’.
When asked who the best player he has worked with was, he replied: ‘You know, it is very hard to say, to speak about Terry, Lampard, Drogba, Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Man United, all the Inter guys, I don’t know.’
Towards the end of the questioned, meanwhile, he revealed the team who he feels has the best fans in the world.
‘Old Trafford is Old Trafford, Bernabeu is Bernabeu, San Siro is San Siro, Stamford Bridge is Stamford Bridge, he said. ‘But I would say for a team not used to winning, Roma fans are so so loyal to the team.’
Mourinho was sacked as Roma boss in January after three years in charge, and referenced the 2023 Conference League win as his favourite trophy of his career.
Elsewhere, he said Jesse Owens is the greatest sportsperson of all time and revealed his favourite sports outside of football are tennis and Formula One.
He never worked with Messi, however, who he described as ‘the best’ of ‘our generation’
He went onto describe Roma fans as the best in the world having left his role as manager of the club in January
In a separate clip, Mourinho gave his verdict on who he feels will win Euro 2024 next month, and also addressed England’s chances.
While he backed his native Portugal to beat the Three Lions in the final, he picked out Harry Kane as the Golden Boot winner and Jude Bellingham as the player of the tournament.
He also backed Vinicius Jnr to win the Ballon d’Or in October on the back of Real Madrid’s successful year in Spain.
