The players who dazzled after Mourinho rejection

Tom Smith 5 years ago 7.7k
Mourinho in his second spell at Chelsea. AFP

Mourinho has enjoyed a trophy-laden career as a manager, but he has allowed a number of top-class players leave his clubs along the way. Who are they?

Romelu Lukaku

Despite re-signing the Belgian for Manchester United this summer, Lukaku was forced to leave Mourinho's Chelsea for Everton in search of regular playing time.

Kevin De Bruyne

Mourinho sold the world-class playmaker to Wolfsburg for £18m in 2014, but he returned to the Premier League with Manchester City for £54.5m a year later and has since gone on to become a vital player in the club's midfield.

Leonardo Bonucci

Deemed surplus to requirements at Inter Milan, Mourinho sold Bonucci for a mere £3.4m to Juventus, where the defender went on to win six Serie A titles.

Juan Mata

Chelsea's two-time Player of the Year was sold to Manchester United by Mourinho after falling behind Oscar in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

Ryan Bertrand

He may have made his Champions League debut in the famous win over Bayern Munich in 2012, but Mourinho let Bertrand leave in 2014 for Southampton, where he has become a driving force on the left flank.

David Luiz

Sold by Mourinho to PSG for £50m after coming in for heavy criticism following Brazil's embarrassing 7-1 defeat in the 2014 World Cup semi-final, he has since impressed on return to Chelsea under Antonio Conte.

Mohamed Salah

Mourinho signed the Egyptian for Chelsea but he was given few opportunities before being sent out on loan to Fiorentina and Roma. After impressing in Serie A, he has made an emphatic return to the Premier League with Liverpool.

Mentioned in the news story

Premier League
Manchester City
Manchester United
Southampton
Liverpool
Ryan Bertrand
David Luiz
R. Lukaku
L. Bonucci
K. De Bruyne
M. Salah