Inter star Mkhitaryan: ‘Mourinho called me a piece of s*** – that ended everything at Man United’ | OneFootball

Inter midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has revealed new details about his infamous fallout with José Mourinho during their time together at Manchester United, describing a heated training-ground exchange that led to their permanent split.

Writing in his new autobiography, the Inter midfielder recalled how tension with Mourinho had been building since his arrival at Old Trafford in 2016.

“One day in training I told him, ‘You’ve been criticising me for a year and a half, since I joined Manchester United,’” Mkhitaryan recounted, with quotes via FirenzeViola.

“Mourinho then called me a piece of shit, and that’s when I lost my patience. I told him, ‘You’re a piece of shit. A huge piece of shit.’ He sent me away and said he didn’t want to see me again. That scene marked the end.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: José Mourinho, Head Coach of Benfica reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Chelsea FC and SL Benfica at Stamford Bridge on September 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Mkhitaryan: Relationship with Mourinho never recovered

According to Mkhitaryan, the relationship never recovered.

Despite ignoring him in training, Mourinho would message him daily in an effort to push him out of the club.

“During training, he wouldn’t speak to me,” Mkhitaryan explained.

“But every evening he’d send a message on WhatsApp: ‘Miki, please leave.’ I’d reply with the same words: ‘I’ll go if I find the right club; otherwise, I’ll wait until summer.’”

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Inter Milan celebrates after scoring their sides first goal during the Serie A TIM match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 16, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The standoff ended in January 2018, when Mkhitaryan joined Arsenal as part of the high-profile swap deal that took Alexis Sánchez to United. The Armenian went on to revive his career in Serie A, first with Roma and now Inter, where he remains one of the most consistent midfielders in the league.