Paulo Fonseca has strongly hinted at being unhappy with how his experience at AC Milan came to such a sudden end.

Fonseca joined Milan ahead of the 2024-25 season, tasked with replacing Stefano Pioli who had won a Scudetto and reached a Champions League semi-final. However, he did not even last until the end of the year before being sacked after a draw with Roma.

It wasn’t a very well-kept secret that the Portuguese was under pressure, and it didn’t take long until Sergio Conceicao replaced him in what seemed to be a manoeuvre orchestrated mainly by agent Jorge Mendes.

Fast-forwarding to the past week, Fonseca abruptly left Lyon in order to return to Portugal with Sporting CP, with whom he signed a contract until 30 June 2030. He takes the place of Rui Borges, and during the press conference (via Calciomercato.com) he revealed some details.

Did you speak to Rui Borges?

“I think there was a phone call. It happened around the time the rumours started circulating that Rui had refused to speak to me.

“Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking with him: it was a very open and honest conversation, between two coaches who perfectly understand, without any hypocrisy, what moments like these mean.

“We spoke at length, very pleasantly, with great mutual respect and admiration, as I’ve said before. I didn’t just speak with Rui, but also with his assistant, Tiago, whom I’ve known for a long time. Sometimes controversy arises when, in reality, things are completely normal.

“I can tell you this story. I was at Milan, we were playing against Roma, and the coach who would replace me had already been hired [Conceiçao]. The next day I had to quickly clear out my room and locker because the new coach wanted to come in.

“And you know what? I didn’t even get a phone call, but there was no need. In football, these situations are part of the game, and I didn’t take it personally. We must understand, without hypocrisy, that these processes are natural.”