Man U to pay Chelsea millions of pounds for 'Special one' and 'Jose Mourinho' image rights

Manchester United have agreed to pay Chelsea millions of Pounds in order to have image rights to Mourinho's name.

Chelsea bought the rights to Jose Mourinho’s name and image in 2005 and continue to sell Jose Mourinho products like mugs, cups, scarfs etc on their website, still earning considerable money from the 11 year old deal.

Jose Mourinho's move to United was supposed to have been completed on Wednesday but the club couldn't come up with an agreement with the Portuguese after it emerged Mourinho's previous advisors sold his 'special one' and 'Jose Mourinho' image rights to Chelsea and if Man U eventually signs up Mourinho they won't be able to use his image for promotion, adverts or any other commercial venture.

Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward wants the rights to Jose Mourinho’s image and that is what has been holding up the deal over the past 48 hours.

Sports lawyer Carol Couse told BBC Sport it was "really unusual" for an individual not to own the trademark to their own name. "If United had a brand of Mourinho clothing, it would be in breach of the trademark Chelsea currently own," said Couse, of law firm Mills & Reeve.

The former Chelsea manager will become one of the best paid managers in the world when he eventually signs a 3 year deal worth £45m. It is expected the deal will be completed on Friday.


Source: BBC