Jose Mourinho describes ex-Liverpool player as one of his best friends

What the hell?

Jose Mourinho was back in the headlines last week, after he sent a letter congratulating Leicester City, and his former rival Claudio Ranieri. The ex-Chelsea boss may be back in football this summer, depending if you believe the rumours out of Old Trafford, and again this morning he has been busy with his finest fountain pen and writing pad. The former Real Madrid boss has written an open letter to Spanish newspaper Marca, praising a former Liverpool defender as "a good player and an exceptional man." Alvaro Arbeloa was part of Mourinho's title-winning side with Real Madrid in 2012, and also enjoyed spells at Liverpool and Deportivo. He returned to Los Blancos after his spell in England, and the now 33-year-old has been hailed as a club legend by Mourinho. The gushing praise also extends to how Mourinho sees Arbeloa as not a former player of his, but as a close mate.

"Arbeloa is a friend, not just a player for me. How does a player become a friend? "By becoming an example of passion for his profession of love for his club, of dedication to a working group and its objectives, humility and honour in the relationship with all those who work with him every day. "In the history of our huge club it will have many of the best players in the world. "Arbeloa does not have that profile, but he is certainly one of those who has given Real Madrid, its fans, all his coaches and his team-mates all he had and what had not. "Arbeloa I have only words of thanks. In my 16 years of coaching I have, surely, on the podium of the most important players with whom I have worked. A good player and an exceptional man."

What next? Rafa Benitez praising Steve Finnan?