José Mourinho received a warm Roman welcome as he returned to the Stadio Olimpico for Real Madrid’s 4-3 victory over Roma, with the evening carrying as much memory as competitive edge.
The former Roma coach was greeted before the match by supporters who still associate his time in the capital with a significant recent chapter in the club’s history. Chants, applause and banners accompanied Mourinho’s return, while the stadium made clear that his bond with the Giallorossi has endured beyond his departure.
An Olimpico reunion
The affection did not come only from the stands. After the final whistle, Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gianluca Mancini waited near the dressing-room area to meet Mourinho.
The three players had developed a close relationship with the Portuguese coach during his Roma spell. Mancini, Pellegrini and Dybala spent time speaking with him after the game, exchanging smiles and embraces in a quiet reunion away from the main occasion on the pitch.
Real Madrid ultimately left Rome with a 4-3 win, but Mourinho’s return gave the fixture a broader meaning for the home support. At Trigoria and across the Roma environment, the memory of his time at the club remains firmly present.
