Iker Casillas, Paul Pogba, Pepe… and now Tanguy Ndombele? Jose Mourinho’s biggest fall-outs as Tottenham boss sidelines £55million signing
Jose Mourinho has made his name as one of the most successful managers in football over the last two decades, but he's had a fair few bust-ups along the way.
Recent reports have suggested the Tottenham boss' relationship with Tanguy Ndombele has reached breaking point - although the Portuguese has rubbished those rumours.
The France international, who made a club-record £55million switch from Lyon last summer, has not played in either of Spurs’ first two games since the Premier League restart.
And shortly after after the 2-0 home win against West Ham on Tuesday, reports emerged in France claiming Ndombele had told Mourinho he no longer wanted to play for the club.
“No. On the bench was Tanguy, [Ryan] Sessegnon, Toby [Alderweireld], [Jan] Vertonghen, Gedson [Fernandes] and they didn’t play,” Mourinho said, in an attempt to quash the rumour.
While Mourinho insists his relationship with Ndombele is OK, it wouldn't be the first time he has feuded with a player in his illustrious career.
marvelbet369.com takes a look at some of his most famous fall-outs...
Ricardo Quaresma (Inter Milan)
When Mourinho arrived at Inter in 2008, winger Quaresma was rated as one of the most gifted players in the world and it was hoped the Special One would help his fellow Portuguese kick on to even greater levels.
But their personalities clashed as Mourinho became frustrated with what he saw as Quaresma’s poor attitude and over-exuberance.
Mourinho ordered Quaresma to change and become more tactically disciplined. He didn't and became surplus to requirements before being loaned to Chelsea,
Quaresma later claimed signing for Inter was his 'biggest regret'.
He said: “I felt on the margins of the squad and woke up crying when I had to attend training sessions.”
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
'San Iker' was beloved by everyone at Real Madrid and Spain.
A Real legend who had won countless honours, he had also played a key role in the nation's World Cup triumph in 2010.
Mourinho's relationship with Casillas started positively but soon deteriorated.
The shot-stopper allegedly got on the wrong side of his boss for his close bond with several Barcelona players during the peak of the two clubs' bitter rivalry.
And when asked asked if he would have done anything differently at the Bernabeu, Mourinho said: “I should have brought in Diego Lopez (the keeper that replaced Casillas) after my first year.”
Pepe (Real Madrid)
Mourinho clashed with a few players at Real during his three-year spell - and his relationship with the notoriously dirty defender turned sour because of his treatment of Casillas.
Pepe branded his boss' actions as 'not suitable', which Mourinho saw a huge betrayal, having stood by the player during a number of controversies.
The feud was advanced to a new level when Mourinho launched an attack on his centre-back with his quotes about rising star Raphael Varane.
In typically brutal fashion, he said: “It’s easy to analyse the Pepe thing. His problem has a name, and it is Raphael Varane.
“I have to try and be honest and think that very few don’t believe that the future of Real Madrid is Varane and Sergio Ramos.
“It isn’t easy for a man of 31 with a lot of experience to be blown out of the water by a kid of 19. It’s very simple. The problem is very simple. Pepe’s life has changed.”
Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea)
Chelsea fans continue to rue the day Mourinho gave the green light for the Belgium playmaker to make permanent transfer to Wolfsburg in 2014.
De Bruyne made just three Premier League appearances at Stamford Bridge before he was deemed surplus to requirements.
Following his departure, the pair made a series of digs at one another, with Mourinho criticising the his effort in training - a suggestion De Bruyne strongly denied.
The Man City ace, who is is now one of the world's very best, claimed Mourinho spoke with him on just two occasions throughout his Chelsea career.
It was surely one of the Blues' biggest mistakes of the last decade letting him go.
Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Mourinho persistently criticised Shaw for his fitness and form during his time at Old Trafford.
The former Porto boss even took credit for one of the full-back's good performance against Everton in April 2017, saying: "He [Shaw] had a good performance but it was his body with my brain. He was in front of me and I was making every decision for him."
It seemed a formality that Shaw would be sold by Mourinho but he worked his way back into the first team and is now flourishing under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
For one reason or another, the pair never saw eye to eye as soon as Mourinho arrived at the club.
He was dropped in favour of Alexis Sanchez when he arrived in 2017 and tensions mounted further when Martial decided to stay with his partner following the birth of their child rather than rejoining United’s pre-season tour in 2018.
He said: “Anthony Martial has the baby and after the baby is born – beautiful baby, full of health, thank God – he should be here and he is not here.”
Martial responded with a cryptic social media post, reading: “My family will always come first” - and the relationship never recovered.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Unquestionably the most high-profile bust-up in this list, Mourinho's falling out with Pogba played a big part in his downfall at United.
Having swooped in to sign the Frenchman after being handed a mammoth transfer budget on his arrival at the club, many thought it could be the start of a new dynasty of success for the Red Devils.
This couldn't have been further from the case.
The pair were at odds with one another relentlessly, with Mourinho demanding more more from the midfielder while Pogba questioned his manager’s tactics.
Their relationship deteriorated to a point of no return when a video of the two death-staring each other in training went viral.
And prior to his sacking, Mourinho labelled the France midfielder 'a virus' in the dressing room which may have been the final nail in the coffin for the Old Trafford hierarchy.
