In a recent documentary, Jose Mourinho shared that he had reached a formal agreement to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as the manager of Manchester United in 2013. According to Mourinho, the deal was finalized, but he ultimately decided against taking the role. Instead, he opted to return to Chelsea for a second stint as manager.

Mourinho described the decision as emotionally difficult, noting that he was moved to tears when he ultimately turned down the Manchester United offer. While the details of the contract were settled, the transition did not occur, leading to a different path for both the club and the manager at that time. The revelation provides new insight into the managerial carousel that occurred following Ferguson's retirement, a period that saw significant speculation regarding his successor before David Moyes was eventually appointed.