Mourinho’s move to Real Madrid may cost him dear

Following Jose Mourinho's tearful and very public farewell to Inter Milan, his apparently effortless transition to the dugout at Real Madrid has stalled. It seems the 'Special One' has not technically left the Italian club, and will have to buy out his own contract.

In pictures beamed around the world after Inter's triumph in the Champions League final Mourinho was seen leaving the ground in a car belonging to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, before stopping the vehicle and rushing back to the Inter team bus in tears for an emotional embrace with Marco Materazzi.

That display of unabashed Mediterranean emotion appeared to indicate the finality of Mourinho's departure. But now it seems there are a few loose ends still to tie up - and it could leave the Special One crying into his wallet.

When Real Madrid called a press conference this week it was widely assumed that it was to unveil their new coach. Instead, all they announced was that they had fired the old one, Manuel Pellegrini.

Perez did state that they intended to install Mourinho as manager. "We will hire him as soon as he resolves his contractual issue with Inter," he announced.

That dispute would appear to centre on the release clause that the Special One had inserted into his contract before the start of the season. It was widely assumed that it would cost him, or a new employer, no more than €8m. But now Massimi Moratti, the Inter president, says that the figure is double that. And to make matters worse for Mourinho, Perez has declared: "We won't be paying any part of the release clause, it has nothing to do with us... it's down to Mourinho and Inter to work things out."

Mourinho may now be wishing he had played harder to get in his dealings with Real Madrid, rather than making it clear that he would do almost anything to work for them.

But all is not lost, Inter apparently owe Real money for the transfer of Wesley Sneijder last year, and financial hurdles rarely present a significant hindrance in the sometimes murky world of European football. ·