A new Netflix documentary has confirmed long-standing rumours that Jose Mourinho briefly agreed to become Manchester United manager in 2013, before pulling out to honour a prior commitment to Chelsea. Sir Alex Ferguson had told Mourinho privately that he planned to retire, and after weeks of talks in Madrid and London the two sides reached agreement on terms, only for Mourinho to reverse the decision within days, reportedly in tears on the phone to Ferguson. The episode is regarded by those close to the club as a pivotal "sliding doors" moment in United's post-Ferguson history.

Mourinho cited family reasons, including a London home and a prior promise to return to Chelsea, though some at United remain sceptical this was the full story. With Mourinho gone and Pep Guardiola committed to Bayern Munich, United instead appointed David Moyes, whose tenure fell well short of expectations. Mourinho eventually did join United in 2016, replacing Louis van Gaal, winning the Europa League and EFL Cup in his first season, but by then both he and the club's playing squad had changed significantly since 2013, and his spell ultimately ended in turbulence, as his second Chelsea stint had before it.