JOSE MOURINHO HAS revealed he discussed Alex Ferguson’s retirement months before the public knew, but that there was no chance he would choose Manchester United over Chelsea.

Mourinho left Real Madrid and started his second stint at Chelsea when he signed a four-year deal in June 2013, a month after Ferguson had announced David Moyes would be replacing him at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese was believed to be a contender for the position, but he claims Ferguson knew he wanted to return to Stamford Bridge, meaning he was never in the picture for replacing the Man Utd legend.

“Every manager in the world looks at Man United as a huge club but I wanted to come to Chelsea,” he told BBC.

“And we didn’t bring that to the table because we were so open and he knows so much about myself that he knew that for almost a season, I want to leave Real Madrid and I want to come to Chelsea.

“He told me a huge secret, not many people knew, like, one month or two months before the decision. I know that he trusts me, because if he doesn’t, he doesn’t tell me but I was scared.

“I was scared so when finally he informed the media about this decision it was a sense of relief.”

Mourinho’s Blues romped to the Premier League title last campaign after finishing third in the Portuguese’s first season back on English soil for his second stint at Chelsea, whom he had parted ways with in 2007.

Meanwhile, Manchester United finished seventh in their first Premier League season without Ferguson before Louis van Gaal took charge and leaded them to fourth in 2014-15.

‘We know how dangerous the Irish are’ – Germany boss issues warning ahead of Aviva encounter>

Squeaky bum time! Here’s what needs to happen for Ireland to qualify for Euro 2016>