‘You will remain one of us’: Jose Mourinho is welcomed back to Milan with open arms

Jose Mourinho may have taken jobs at five different clubs since leaving Inter Milan in 2010, but the club’s ultras served him a reminder that he will ‘remain one of us’ ahead of Roma’s game at the San Siro.

Mourinho famously won the treble with the Nerazzurri in the 2009-10 campaign, guiding the club to the Scudetto, Champions League and Coppa Italia. 

After his European triumph, the Portuguese immediately left for Real Madrid, before taking jobs at Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. 

Jose Mourinho has been welcomed back to Milan with open arms by their ultra supporters

Regardless, those associated with Inter retain fond memories of the Special One and Inter Ultras Curva Nord greeted the Portuguese as his side arrived in Milan for their game against AC Milan on Thursday.

Supporters were pictured handing Mourinho a plaque which read: ‘To Mister Jose Mourinho. Your professional career will take you anywhere, but you are and will remain one of us.’ 

The Roma boss posed for pictures with the Ultras and took the gift with him into the team hotel as his side continued their preparations for their clash with Stefano Pioli’s title hopefuls. 

Mourinho won a famous treble during his spell with the Italian giants between 2008 and 2010

And supporters from group Curva Nord gifted the Special One a plaque with a message

In the build up to Thursday’s match, Mourinho insisted that he would never take charge of AC Milan or Lazio – Inter and Roma’s fierce rivals – out of respect for the two Italian clubs he has managed. 

The Curva Nord are notoriously difficult to please, having endured a rocky relationship with Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku recently.

The Ultras were unimpressed with the Belgian’s San Siro departure last summer and upon the release of an explosive interview in which he hinted at unhappiness at Stamford Bridge, the group said they do not want him back in Milan.

It read: ‘To Mister Jose Mourinho. Your professional career will take you anywhere, but you are and will remain one of us.’

The Roma boss posed for pictures with his adoring fans ahead of Roma’s game v AC Milan

They made their feelings known by placing a banner on the gates near the San Siro, saying he ‘ran away’ to the Premier League.

The sign read: ‘It doesn’t matter who runs away in the rain, it counts who stays in the storm. Bye Romelu’.

The fans of the Italian club do not want to forgive the Belgian striker after the summer betrayal and do not accept his belated apology, while supporters are in love with Lukaku’s replacement and new No 9 Edin Dzeko.