Jose Mourinho labels one of his much-loved former players ‘The Fatty One’ after post-career weight-gain left him almost unrecognisable

Jose Mourinho has labelled one of his favourite former players a ‘fatty guy’ after reuniting with the midfielder in Amsterdam on Tuesday night.

The Benfica boss, 62, travelled to the Dutch capital to take on Ajax in the Champions League, triumphing 2-0 thanks to goals from Samuel Dahl and Leandro Barreiro. 

The victory, Benfica’s first in the competition this season, was not all that brought a smile to Mourinho’s face on the night, as the Portuguese manager linked up with an old friend moments before the game.

Inter Milan legend Wesley Sneijder, who won the Treble with Mourinho in 2010, was working as a pundit for Ziggo Sport when his former manager came over to say hello. 

Smiling, Mourinho embraced the ex-Netherlands international before kissing him on the forehead. He also caught up with Khalid Boulahrouz, whom he coached at Chelsea before leaving for Inter in 2008.

Asked about his reunion with Sneijder after the match, the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager said: ‘Come on, the man gave me a Treble. He gave me the best year of my career. 

Jose Mourinho reunited with Wesley Sneijder ahead of Benfica’s clash with Ajax on Tuesday

The 35-year-old has enjoyed retirement – but his weight gain has caught attention at times

The former Inter Milan boss endearingly branded Sneijder ‘the fatty guy’ after their reunion

‘He and the other players, of course, but Wesley was very important in that team. Wesley gave me my second Champions League. The kiss was for Wesley; the fatty guy is very sweet.’

Sneijder was instrumental during the 2009-10 season when Inter won the Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup, operating as the club’s chief creative talent alongside star team-mates including Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel and Samuel Eto’o.

The Dutchman and the Portuguese were only together at the San Siro for one season, however, as Mourinho left for Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer of 2010.

Sneijder moved to Turkish outfit Galatasaray at the age of 29 in 2013 and spent four years there before short one-year stints at Nice and Al-Gharafa.

In 2019, at the age of 35, the former Netherlands superstar decided to call time on his career, candid about his fading motivation to maintain peak fitness.

Sneijder once said while looking back at his career: ‘I could have become like (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo. I simply didn’t feel like it. I enjoyed my life, maybe I had a glass [of wine] at dinner.’