'A gift for poetry!' - Jose Mourinho continues feud with Fenerbahce winger Allan Saint-Maximin in bizarre 'elevator' message to Fulham boss Marco Silva

Ex-Chelsea and Manchester United manager Mourinho has been working with French winger Saint-Maximin in Turkey this season. The former Newcastle forward joined Fener on loan from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in the summer of 2024.

He was recently dropped by Mourinho amid questions of his attitude and fitness. Saint-Maximin responded to the criticism being levelled at him by posting on social media: "When a lie takes the elevator, the truth takes the stairs. It takes longer, but it arrives in the end."

Mourinho hit back with: "I didn't know Saint-Maximin had a gift for poetry. I'm not bad at it either. When a footballer works well, works hard and trains every day, he can be in good form and climb up the stairs. He doesn't need to use the lift. By contrast, if a player doesn't train well, turns up late, is overweight and isn't ready to play a match, then he needs to use the lift - as he'll soon get tired on the stairs."

The ‘Special One’ has now echoed those comments after being contacted by A Bola to send a congratulatory message to fellow Portuguese Silva after seeing him reach 500 games in management. Mourinho said: "500? A beautiful number, which with more grey hairs will reach 600… 700… Congratulations Marco, for a beautiful career, based on talent, work, seriousness, discretion. You climbed the stairs, where many had the elevator at their disposal. Congratulations for a career made of results and not perceptions. I admire and applaud you."

Mourinho – who has also spent time with Real Madrid and Inter in his trophy-laden career – has passed 1,170 games as a coach. He has lost none of his appetite for success at 62 years of age, with the outspoken Portuguese remaining as fiery and spiky as ever.