He called me and cried! Ferguson reveals an incredible story about Mourinho

Football history could have unfolded very differently.

In a new Netflix documentary about José Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson makes a sensational revelation: the legendary Scotsman was convinced the Portuguese manager had agreed to take over Manchester United in 2013—until one evening phone call turned everything upside down.

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"Early in the evening, he called me and he was in tears. And he said: 'Alex, I can't do it, I've given my word to Chelsea and I won't break it.' The reason he gave was one I could understand, but I was disappointed," Ferguson shared.

In the end, Mourinho left Real Madrid in the summer of 2013 and returned to Chelsea, where he went on to win the Premier League in 2015. Ferguson retired, and David Moyes took the helm at Manchester United—though his stint lasted less than a year.

Remarkably, Mourinho did eventually manage Manchester United: from 2016 to 2018, he led the club to triumphs in the Europa League and the English League Cup. Now, the 63-year-old Portuguese is back at Real Madrid, having signed a contract until 2029 this summer.

It’s worth noting that the three-part documentary about Mourinho premieres on Netflix tomorrow, August 11. In addition to Ferguson, the film features appearances from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Iker Casillas, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and other stars.

Reminder: Jose in a rage! Mourinho's return to Real kicks off with a high-profile transfer scandal.