Wesley Sneijder insists he will never return to Real Madrid, despite his affinity with former Inter coach Jose Mourinho.
The Dutchman endured a troubled two-year spell with the Spanish outfit between 2007 and 2009, during which time he was unable to hold down a regular role. Last year he was moved on to Inter and in his first season in Italy he helped inspire Inter to an unprecedented Treble.
Sneijder admits Mourinho, the current Real coach, helped to bring the best out of him and he has nothing but admiration for the Portuguese coach.
“Did he (Mourinho) try to make me join Real again? Of course,” Sneijder said in L’Equipe.
“We remain in contact but it is impossible. I can’t go back to a club that treated me that badly.
“I can’t act as if nothing has happened but Real is now the past. I will never play for Real again.”
Sneijder is, however, keen to work under Mourinho again, admitting that the former Chelsea and Porto boss has a shrewd tactical brain.
“I didn’t know him before I joined Inter, but he sent me messages saying he knew about my difficult situation in Madrid,” added Sneijder.
“He told me ‘I want to win the Champions League and if you come we can achieve that’.
“I was hesitant because I didn’t want to leave Real as a failure. I asked the officials there for a chance to prove myself, but they sent me to train away from the group.
“Even for just one season it was a delight to then work with Mourinho. One year with him is worth 10 years with any other coach.”
