Inter Milan has named former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as the club's new manager, ending months and months of speculation as to where 'The Special One' might wind up.
Now the real question becomes: Which players will make their way to Milan to be reunited with Mourinho? Michael Essien had been linked, while Didier Drogba seems like a good bet to go as well. Deco is looking for work and would surely be interested in reuniting with his former Porto manager. I also could see Ricardo Carvalho finding a way out of Stamford Bridge to rejoin Mourinho.
It isn't as if the cupboard is bare at Inter either? Inter Milan boasts one of the most talent-laden rosters in European soccer, which makes it all the more interesting to see what Mourinho can do with the Serie A champions.
Was anybody really shocked by this turn of events? You could see it coming as soon as Inter Milan was eliminated from the Champions League (check the fifth paragraph).
What do you think of the news? Who do you see joining Mourinho at Inter? Share your thoughts below.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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Stopped caring about Mourinho a long time ago. He is a great coach, but there are a lot of great coaches. If he stayed at a club for years and years (i.e. Ferguson, Wenger) and made them competetive all of those years, I would have a little more respect for him.
Posted by: HomeyBoehme | June 02, 2008 at 09:39 AM
I have to say it,
"I'm (feeling) fantastic" about the news that Jose will soon return to our lives in vivid color.
Love him or hate him, the gent makes the game more entertaining.
Be Champions.
Posted by: YankatOxford | June 02, 2008 at 09:49 AM
not sure if they need drogba - zlatan won the league for them, hes younger then drogba, and chelsea would charge a fortune - they have suazo, adriano coming back and balotelli looks like he could be a monster -
essien would be the perfect replacement for the aging vieira
Posted by: oracledba | June 02, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Homey, it's not like he chose to leave Chelsea, Roman sacked him. He absolutely loved that team. I'm no Chelsea fan, and I hope he takes as many Chelsea players to Italy as possible, but he is a great manager and one of the most entertaining men in sports. I'm just bummed that he'll be in Italy instead of England as I don't speak Italian and won't get to hear much out of him.
Posted by: Nick | June 02, 2008 at 09:59 AM
So with him in Italy and Sven going to Mexico maybe, will the puppet show be back this season? God I hope so.
Posted by: bgnewf | June 02, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Fantastic! Can't wait to find out who his new signing is.
Posted by: chupacabra | June 02, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Great signing for Inter. Be Champions!
Posted by: Dante | June 02, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Sheva back to Italy? lol
Posted by: MasterShake | June 02, 2008 at 12:00 PM
As an Inter supporter I was sad to see Mancini go after everything he had accomplished, but I understand that it had to be done. It seemed liked the player/coach situation was getting dangerously close to open revolt and it is very difficult to see that happening with Mourinho in charge. If Zlatan had not come off the bench to save the day in the last match the season would have been a total loss.
Posted by: nathan3e | June 02, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Yes, I'm ready for more WINNER'S PHILOSOPHY in my life!
LOL, YaO
Posted by: eric | June 02, 2008 at 01:40 PM
another one of the worst secrets in sports. there was no way murinho would wind up anywhere else than at inter. inter had a hole and murinho is the peg.
Drogba and Carvalho are definites. Deco is going to England.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 02, 2008 at 02:04 PM