José Mourinho was set to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United boss in 2013 before changing his mind and rejoining Chelsea, a new Netflix docuseries on the Portuguese manager revealed.
The three-episode series titled "Mourinho" has been produced by Ventureland, the company that made the acclaimed documentaries "Beckham" and "FIFA Uncovered," and tells the story of Mourinho's hugely successful and controversial career.
The docuseries releases Tuesday as Mourinho prepares to embark on his second stint as Real Madrid manager after returning this summer.
A significant portion of the docuseries is on his first spell at the Bernabéu, where he successfully broke the dominance of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. But by the end of his three-year stint with the club, his relationship with a majority of the squad had broken down and he was engaged in an acrimonious feud with club captain Iker Casillas.
Madrid finished the season without a trophy, and Mourinho left by mutual consent in the summer of 2013. Then, he was set to join Manchester United.
"I think the objective of this work that we are doing [shooting a docuseries] is to tell the truth. When I left Real Madrid, I signed with Manchester United to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex [Ferguson], " Mourinho said in the docuseries.
Ferguson announced his decision to step down as Man United manager at the end of the 2012-13 season, ending to his historic 26-year tenure with the club.
"He [Mourinho] was offered a job, yes. I sat him down and explained the situation. And as far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then within hours, it changed," Ferguson said in the docuseries.
Mourinho admitted to being flattered by the offer but rejoined Chelsea as he "needed to feel that I'm loved" after a bruising period at Madrid.
"Evening he phoned me and he was crying, and he says 'Oh, I can't take it, I've given my word to Chelsea, and I'm not going to break my word,'" Ferguson said.
"The reason he gave to me, I could understand. But I was disappointed."
Reflecting on his decision to spurn United, Mourinho said: "For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson was dramatic. But I don't regret it because it was a decision that I made with my heart. And I think it is Nietzsche that says that when you do something for love, you are never doing anything wrong. I think it's nature. I did it for love.
"I went back with the feeling of yes, I go home, but with a big responsibility because what I did before is history, and you don't want to destroy your legacy."
- Real Madrid's José Mourinho unimpressed by Bernardo Silva fitness: 'Has to improve'
- Which big clubs are struggling with World Cup burnout?
Mourinho helped to end Chelsea's 50-year wait for a league title during his first stint by guiding the club to the Premier League championship in 2004 and then Chelsea won it again the following year.
In his second stint at Stamford Bridge, he won the league title in the 2014-15 season. After a dismal start to 2016-17, he was fired for the second time by owner Roman Abramovich.
Mourinho belatedly became Man United manager in 2016, and won the Europa League and League Cup during his 2½-year stint at Old Trafford.