Essien advised me to join Mourinho, says Muntari

Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari has revealed that close friend Michael Essien advised him to join the Italian giants in order to link up with Jose Mourinho.

Essien was signed by Mourinho from Lyon when the Portuguese was boss of Chelsea and when Muntari had the opportunity to join Inter from Portsmouth, Essien told his Ghana international team-mate to jump at the chance.

Muntari and Essien have become close friends since starring for the Ghana side that reached the under-20 World Cup final in Argentina where the Africans lost 3-0 to the hosts.

“For me he is a brother. When the opportunity came up to join Inter he phoned me and said: 'Go without fear, Mourinho is there and with him you'll become a great player',” Muntari told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“At Chelsea, Michael did great with the gaffer.

“Mourinho is the most complete coach I've ever met. There are those who are there only on the pitch and then it's goodbye.

“But he is always available during the day and for anything.”

Muntari has become a first choice starter under Mourinho, who has already made great waves in Italy, guiding Inter six points clear of fellow Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus in the Serie A standings.

Another coach that Muntari has a lot of respect for is AS Roma's Luciano Spalletti, who was Muntari's boss at Udinese, where the Ghanaian spent four seasons.

“I owe him everything, he's one of the most important people in my life,” he said of Spalletti.

“Udinese was a vital stage in my career, it's a wonderful club.”