Jose Mourinho has once again stirred controversy in Turkish football with his latest social media jab at Galatasaray, prompting a sharp response from striker Mauro Icardi in an escalating war of words between the rival clubs.
The outspoken Portuguese manager, known for his frequent clashes with match officials throughout his career at Chelsea, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, took to social media to criticize what he perceived as a missed handball call against Galatasaray defender Davinson Sanchez. Mourinho's post featured an image of the alleged handball incident, accompanied by a sardonic message about Portugal's performance in the Handball World Cup, stating: "In the Handball World Cup that ended last Sunday, my Portugal brilliantly reached the semifinals and I want to congratulate them for such an achievement and the impact they will create on our country's youth."
The provocative post didn't go unanswered for long. Galatasaray forward Mauro Icardi, formerly of Inter Milan, quickly fired back at Mourinho by reviving "The Crying One" meme - a pointed reference to Mourinho's self-proclaimed "Special One" moniker. Icardi's response included his own evidence of an unpunished handball incident involving a Fenerbahce player, highlighting what he saw as hypocrisy in Mourinho's complaints.
This latest exchange adds to Mourinho's growing list of controversies in Turkish football, where he has repeatedly criticized Super Lig referees. At 62, the Fenerbahce boss shows no signs of tempering his approach to mind games, a tactical tool he has wielded throughout his career to unsettle opponents. Despite accusations of hypocrisy, which are nothing new to the veteran manager, Mourinho appears determined to continue speaking his mind, regardless of the pushback from rivals like Icardi.
