Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says he had known for months Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to retire at Manchester United.

Mourinho insists he was never in the running to succeed Fergie at Old Trafford because he had already told the Scotsman he was ­coming back to Chelsea.

Mourinho said: "I knew Sir Alex was retiring many months ago. Why? Because we are friends. So if I am his friend to know he is ­going to retire, he is also my friend to know that the club I want to coach in England is Chelsea.

"Of course, I told him that. I told him I want to come to Chelsea. I would turn down everyone in the world for Chelsea."