José Mourinho has unequivocally put to rest the swirling rumors of Cristiano Ronaldo joining Fenerbahçe. Ahead of the high-stakes clash against Besiktas, the Special One made it clear: CR7 is not part of his plans. “Ronaldo will not come. I have three excellent strikers, and I don’t need another,” Mourinho stated. “Cristiano is always Cristiano, but I’m happy with my attackers,” he added, shutting down the prospect with characteristic bluntness.
Mourinho also cast doubt on what could motivate the Portuguese star to consider Turkey. “He has his target of 1,000 goals and the money he earns in Saudi Arabia. What else could bring him to Turkey, except maybe the beauty of Istanbul?” he quipped.
Although Mourinho isn’t a fan of the January transfer window, he acknowledged its utility in specific cases, saying, “I never say ‘no’ to a transfer, but I won’t knock on doors demanding one.” His focus remains on Fenerbahçe’s squad stability and the battle for the Turkish Süper Lig title, where his side trails Galatasaray by three points.
Mourinho vs. Guardiola: A War of Words
The conference also served as a stage for Mourinho’s rebuttal to Pep Guardiola, who recently boasted about his Premier League triumphs in comparison to Mourinho’s record. “I want to win clean and fair. If I lose, I’ll congratulate my opponent for being better. I don’t want to win with 150 legal cases,” Mourinho fired back, alluding to controversies surrounding Guardiola’s successes.
With a crucial derby against Besiktas looming, Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe will aim to close the gap to Galatasaray, continuing a fierce campaign in Turkey’s top league.
