How Jose Mourinho turned me into a Champions League winner - Former midfielder reveals
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Jose Mourinho claimed his second Champions League title with Inter Milan in 2010 (Credit: Imago)

How Jose Mourinho turned me into a Champions League winner - Former midfielder reveals

Seye Omidiora 17:35 - 28.01.2025

A former Champions League winner has detailed how Jose Mourinho convinced him to join Inter in 2008.

Former Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari has revealed how Jose Mourinho convinced him to join the club in 2008. 

Muntari was playing for Portsmouth at the time and had impressed Mourinho with his performances in the FA Cup. 

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What Muntari said

Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho claimed his second Champions League title with Inter Milan in 2010 (Credit: Imago)

The former Ghana international explained that Mourinho called Muntari and offered him the chance to join Inter, and the ex-midfielder immediately accepted.

“Mourinho was in Ghana in 2008 during the AFCON. I was playing for Portsmouth, and we had played well against Chelsea,” the 40-year-old told diretta.it

“After the AFCON and during the entire pre-season, my agent would call me to say: ‘Maybe Inter will get in touch.’ One day I put some good crosses in during a training session and Redknall said smiling: ‘Here’s why a top club like Inter want to sign you.’

“That same day, Jose called me and asked: ‘Do you want to play for me?’ I said yes, and he replied: ‘I’ll see you in Milan tomorrow.’ The day after, I signed for Inter. The rest is history.”

Jose Mourinho
Sulley Muntari has revealed how Jose Mourinho convinced him to sign for Inter Milan (Credit: Imago)

Muntari's move to Inter proved to be a success. The midfield man played a key role in the club's treble-winning season in 2009-10, winning the Serie A title, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League.   

The Ghanaian’s time at the Serie A club was one of the highlights of his career, as the former Portsmouth man was a key player for the club and helped them to achieve great success, featuring 42 times in all competitions in that historic campaign. 

Sulley Muntari
Sulley Muntari won the Champions League with Inter in 2010 (Credit: Imago)

He also formed a strong bond with Mourinho, who he described as a "father figure."

Muntari retired from professional football in November 2022. He played 84 times for Ghana from 2002 to 2014.