Jose Mourinho 'agrees managerial return' to unite with ex-Chelsea and Man Utd stars

Jose Mourinho has reached a verbal agreement to become the new manager of Turkish giants Fenerbahce on a two-year deal, according to reports. The move will see the Portuguese unite with former Manchester United and Chelsea players as he prepares to take charge of a star-studded squad.

Fenerbahce fans reacted angrily when their side missed out on the Turkish Super Lig title to bitter rivals Galatasaray this season – despite the fact they only lost one of their 38 matches.

But they now have something to smile about, as Mourinho is on the verge of replacing Ismail Kartal to become their new manager. The former Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Tottenham boss could be unveiled later today (Friday), according to A Bola.

A verbal agreement between Mourinho’s camp and Fenerbahce is already in place and contracts are due to be signed imminently. A sealed deal will mark the 61-year-old’s return to full-time management for the time time since he was sacked by AS Roma in January.

Mourinho is guaranteed to be welcomed by one familiar face, as former United midfielder Fred signed for Fenerbahce last summer. The pair’s respective spells at Old Trafford overlapped for approximately seven months before the manager was dismissed in 2018.

Fellow Fenerbahce star Michy Batshuayi previously spent six years on the books at Chelsea. Mourinho won three Premier League titles across two spells with the Blues, and although Batshuayi arrived at Stamford Bridge the year after his second spell came to a close, the striker will need no introducing to his incoming manager.

Batshuayi’s Fenerbahce contract expires next month, but the club retain the option to extend it by another year, and they are almost certain to trigger it after the Belgian scored 23 goals in all competitions this season.

Cengiz Under, Josh King, Dusan Tadic, Edin Dzeko and Caglar Soyuncu are among the other former Premier League stars to have spent this campaign on Fenerbahce’s books, while former Rangers winger Ryan Kent is also at the club.

Mourinho has won eight league titles, two Champions Leagues and a Europa League, among a multitude of other trophies, across spells with the likes of Porto, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea, United and Spurs.