Mourinho: How Former Inter Milan Boss Was Forced to Give Christmas Off

• Jose Mourinho was once beaten by the ingenuity and determination of former Inter Milan defender Maicon to be away on Christmas day
• Maicon had always made sure he would be suspended for festive fixtures but Mourinho soiled his plans
• The two came up with a different way to get Maicon his wishes leaving Mourinho with no choice but to give him time off

It is the season to be jolly. But when you are a professional footballer, you hardly get the time to spend the festivities with your loved ones. In the English Premier League, there is usually Boxing day action before another round of matches on New Years' day.

That's why former Inter Milan star Maicon reportedly came up with a way to force the club to be giving him time off during this time.

According to his former manager Jose Mourinho, Maicon usually got booked intentionally to make sure that he is suspended for the round of matches to be played around Christmas time.

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"I remember a game in Siena, with Maicon. They said he always got a fifth yellow to be suspended at Christmas, so he could go on vacation to Brazil. I went to him and said that if he got a yellow he wouldn't be going on vacation, I'm not an idiot," as Football Tweet reports.

How the two worked it out

As if to agree with what he was being accused of, the then-Brazilian international countered his manager by coming up with a new deal altogether.

"He asked if he scored, could he go? I said 'No, only if you score two."

The defender went on to score two goals and removed his shirt while celebrating. He was effectively suspended for the next game but Mourinho added him an extra week off.

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The game at Siena is widely remembered for the wild celebrations that ensued from Mourinho after Maicon scored the winner in the 83rd minute.

Sometimes, we've got to do what we've got to do.

Mourinho's 2022 Christmas message

Sports Brief had earlier reported that AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho has sent out a heart-warming message to the world in this Christmas season, as the world bubbles for the holiday season regardless of the many challenges people currently face.

Mourinho is currently in the Italian capital of Rome with his family and also preparing his Roma team ahead of the second phase of the Serie A season next year after the World Cup forced break.

The Special One acknowledged this time around the world as a difficult time for many people due to wars particularly the Russia-Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic still raging in some parts of the world.