Source MailOnline-Jose Mourinho has given an insight into the out-pour of affection he has experienced since becoming new manager of Tottenham Hotspur.
Speaking in his first press conference since taking over from Mauricio Pochettino, Mourinho outlined how personnel from his previous clubs were among the first to wish him well.
Mourinho has been renowned in recent years for departing his clubs in sour circumstances, with opinions of players and supporters alike divided on the Portuguese star manager.
But, decked out in full Tottenham attire on Thursday afternoon, Mourinho told masses of reporters that his phone has not stopped buzzing since he was installed at the helm in north London.
‘I received 50 messages yesterday from Manchester United people,’ Mourinho revealed.
‘Some players, some staff, some staff over different areas of the club, the board, everybody. And that for me means the world.
‘It’s not about winning or not winning. It’s about the respect people have for you because you were a professional and a good person and you create empathies.’
The 56-year-old was then asked about Real Madrid, who are known to have retained a deep admiration for Mourinho despite his mixed time in the Spanish capital.
‘If you want to call my friends at Real Madrid then yes I speak with them many times. I have so many friends there,’ he replied.
‘The president is the first one. He loves me and I love him, we are friends, we speak, we exchange SMS, we wish luck, we say Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday, good luck in the game. I loved my period there.
‘We did amazing things. We had our problems. We had our frustrations. It was an amazing period for me. I feel always very flattered when I leave these things behind me which go above success, above football. It’s about the human being. It’s about relations.
So Real Madrid is part of my livelihood, part of my life and I always wish them good, I am always happy when Madrid goes in the right direction. If we play them in the Champions League, apart from that match I just want Real Madrid to win and to be successful,’ Mourinho added.
He will take charge of his first match as Spurs boss in an all-London affair on Saturday, as Tottenham travel to the Olympic park to face West Ham United.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side have also been struggling this season, taking just three wins from 12 and sitting in 16th place in the Premier League table as a result.
