Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly unhappy with club president Ali Koc for launching a move for Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu without his sign-off, fearing it’s derailing his own transfer priorities.
Tensions are reportedly rising behind the scenes at Fenerbahce after Jose Mourinho was left out of the loop on a high-profile transfer move. According to sources close to the club, Mourinho is frustrated with the board — particularly club president Ali Koc — for initiating talks with Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu without his prior approval.
Calhanoglu is open to returning to Turkey and is even said to be willing to ask Inter to lower their asking price to €10 million in order to facilitate the move. But despite the midfielder’s interest, Mourinho is not keen on the transfer — at least not now.
Instead, the Portuguese coach has emphasized the urgent need to strengthen other areas of the squad. His priority targets include Paris Saint-Germain defender Milan Skriniar — who impressed on loan at Fenerbahce last season — as well as two new wingers to bolster the club’s wide options ahead of the new campaign.
Mourinho believes the focus on Calhanoglu has slowed down progress on more pressing additions. Sources told GOAL that the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss made his concerns clear to the club’s hierarchy, stressing the need for faster action in areas he believes are critical to Fenerbahce’s title push.
So far this summer, Fenerbahce have made some modest moves, signing Tarık Çetin, Archie Brown, and Jhon Durán. But those arrivals pale in comparison to their fierce rivals Galatasaray, who are making headlines with blockbuster signings. Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is expected to join in the coming days, Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has already agreed terms, and Leroy Sané arrived earlier in the window from Bayern Munich.
While Galatasaray have been dominating the headlines and the transfer race, Mourinho is still waiting for his own marquee signings. Fenerbahce are currently in Portugal for pre-season training, and the coach had hoped to integrate key targets like Skriniar and his desired wingers into the squad before competitive fixtures begin.
Fenerbahce’s 2025-26 Turkish Super Lig season kicks off on August 9 against Alanyaspor. But unless Mourinho’s transfer demands are met soon, there’s a risk that behind-the-scenes friction could spill over into a difficult start to the campaign.
