Mourinho's words still haunt Leon
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China Daily, October 8, 2011
Getafe's on-loan Real Madrid winger Pedro Leon says he felt "humiliated" by coach Jose Mourinho when he was playing for the Spanish giants last season.
Mourinho made headlines in Spain when he attacked Leon after being pressed by journalists about his decision to leave the player out of his squad for a Champions League match against Auxerre in France in September 2010.
"You talk of Pedro Leon as if he was Zinedine Zidane or Diego Maradona or Alfredo di Stefano, he's a great player who not long ago was playing at Getafe," the Portuguese coach said at the time.
"When he works how I like him to, it will be easier for him to play, and when he doesn't, it will be harder for him to play."
Madrid loaned Leon back to his former club Getafe in August after Mourinho said he saw no place on his squad for the 24-year-old winger.
"Mourinho's words about me not being Maradona or Zidane hurt. More than the content what bothered me was the way he said it. You can say the same thing but in a better way," Leon said during an interview with radio station Cadena Ser.
"I felt humiliated. I am not aware of doing anything wrong. I did all I could, I was professional, I worked hard," he added.
Leon said Chelsea were keen to sign him during the January transfer window, but Mourinho blocked the move.
"Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and of course I was excited about the possibility. The coach gave me his opinion and told me he would not let me go. He told me I would not play much in London," he said.
Leon, who has also played for Levante, Murcia and Valladolid, moved to Madrid in July 2010 on a six-year deal for a reported fee of 10 million euros ($14.5 million).
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