Among the many stories in the Portuguese press ahead of the game between Manchester United and Benfica, Jornal de Notícias decided to write a special one about José Mourinho today.
The newspaper had some work to find out the details of the manager’s life in Manchester, where they say he lives ‘like a prince’.
Mourinho reportedly doesn’t want to put down roots away from his wife and children in London. That’s why he didn’t buy a house in Manchester, and currently lives at the Lowry hotel, where according to JN, a night costs around €900, but the manager would have negotiated a cheaper price.
It’s claimed Mourinho eats in his suite, and doesn’t leave the place much, as even his clothes are washed and ironed by the hotel service.
As the Manchester United boss ‘can’t cook an egg’, he uses the hotel’s menu, and sometimes orders food from other places.
His confinement is mostly to escape from the media, although Diário de Notícias claims that sometimes, he calls his staff members Silvino, Rui Faria and Ricardo Formosino to eat out.
The newspaper explains that Mourinho is a fan of pasta and meat, a reason why he goes to Italian restaurant San Carlo, and also tried Tapeo & Wine, a place owned by Manchester United player Juan Mata.
Finally, when he misses his family, Mourinho takes a trip to London. Jornal de Notícias wonders if he will do this after the match against Benfica tonight.
There’s clearly interest in Portugal at how Mourinho lives, and a curiosity, like with some in England, about him still living in a hotel. But with him being on his own, and the suite being advertised as having the feel ‘of a stylish private apartment’, it’s understandable if the Manchester United manager simply likes the peace and quiet of the hotel, and all services being on-site.
