José Mourinho cited a “world record” voter turnout in his club Benfica’s presidential elections as the reason for his absence from an Italian sports newspaper’s centennial celebration.
The Portuguese coach participated in the 100th-anniversary event for ‘Corriere dello Sport’ via video call. The celebration was held at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples.
Mourinho stated he could not attend in person because his club had “just broken the world record with 85,000 voters in the election for president.” He added that he “returned to football thanks to Benfica.”
He made these remarks after Benfica’s presidential elections, which reportedly took place on a Saturday.
Mourinho also extended congratulations to the Italian newspaper. He commended ‘Corriere dello Sport’ for being “good and independent,” emphasizing his love for “sport and journalism with ethics.”
During the video call, Mourinho spoke with former Italian goalkeeper Gigi Buffon. He praised Buffon, calling him “the best of his generation.”
Mourinho reflected on his past rivalry with Juventus during his time managing Inter Milan. He said, “I am no saint, but for me, the best opponents are those who force us to be better.”
The coach also commented on Italian tennis. He said Italy was doing “a fantastic job” and noted “even before Sinner, there was a desire to reach the top.” He concluded by saying, “Only one more Grand Slam is missing, the one in Rome.”