Jose Mourinho's tumultuous start to his reign at Fenerbahce has taken an astonishing turn, with the self-proclaimed 'Special One' openly feuding with the club's hierarchy before a ball has even been kicked.
In a press conference that sent shockwaves through Turkish football, the new manager was asked about critical comments made by the club's vice-president, Erol Bilecik. Mourinho's response was both brutal and dismissive.
'To be honest, I have no idea who he is,' Mourinho stated, leaving journalists in the room stunned. He further elaborated, 'I know the president, I know the one who is the second president... but I have no idea who the vice-president is.'
This very public snub is a direct response to Bilecik's earlier remarks, where he suggested the superstar manager would have to adapt to the club's culture, not the other way around. Bilecik had emphasised that 'no one is bigger than Fenerbahce' and that the club's values would not be compromised.
Mourinho, never one to shy away from a confrontation, used his platform to not only reject this notion but to question the executive's very role at the club. This explosive exchange threatens to derail Mourinho's mission to win the Super Lig title before it has even properly begun, signalling a potential power struggle behind the scenes at the Turkish giants.
The football world now watches with bated breath to see how this dramatic internal conflict at Fenerbahce will unfold, testing the limits of Mourinho's authority and the patience of the club's board in equal measure.
