'Jose Mourinho was more popular than I was' - Ex-Real Madrid chief reveals 'clear disagreement' with Portuguese coach forced Florentino Perez to sack him

Former Real Madrid player, manager, and director general Valdano has opened up on his bitter departure from the Spanish club at the end of the 2010-11 season, citing that president Perez had to choose between him and then-head coach Mourinho, and the decision was obvious due to the Portuguese's higher popularity.

Madrid appointed Mourinho as the club's new head coach ahead of the 2010-11 season. However, Mourinho's strong character often clashed with the authority held by Valdano, who served as the general manager as well as the presidential aide to Perez. At the time, it was reported that Valdano rejected Mourinho's request to sign a new striker after Gonzalo Higuain had suffered an injury earlier in the 2010-11 campaign. 

Perez, though, explained he decided to sack Valdano, a popular figure in Madrid history, to bring an end to the "dysfunction" at the club. "The experience of this just completed season demonstrated a need for more autonomy, including within the coaching unit," said Perez.

"Mourinho did not make any demands. He only demanded autonomy on the sporting side, like that which works with English clubs. I think for the sake of the institution, this is a reorganisation that has to be done. We signed the best coach in the world, so we want to be sure that even when he leaves one day and we sign another of the world's best, the structure is there. There were two people with a strong sports character, and the harmony needed was lacking. There was a clear dysfunction that needed to be resolved."

In an interview with MARCA, Valdano said: "I had a clear disagreement with Mourinho, because we had opposing sensibilities. So it was only natural that Florentino had to let go of one of us, and at that time, Mourinho was much more popular than I was."

The Argentine, immediately after his sacking in 2011, narrated his side of the story at a press conference. "I am not the one who turned Real Madrid into a battlefield," said the former striker. "All my efforts this season were directed toward restraint.

"It has been a long time since I have spoken personally to Mourinho. We greet each other politely, but he sought to deal with people other than me. My responsibilities with the first team were reduced. I did not feel comfortable in that situation.

"I believe Jose Mourinho staying on is good for a club that's been unstable in the past. It needs to settle for a reasonable period of time. He's done a good job, I believe he is a good coach, and I find it normal that he stays on."

Fourteen years after the incident involving Perez and Valdano, Mourinho finds himself without a club. Indeed, the Special One was sacked from his post as Fenerbahce head coach after he failed to guide the Turkish giants to the league phase of the Champions League. For now, Mourinho's future seems unclear. He was linked with Nottingham Forest, but ex-Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has been named as the new manager. There have been links to West Ham, too, while a move to Scottish heavyweights Rangers could well be on the cards.