But the former Blues boss has confirmed that he was interested in signing the England international.
Mourinho told the Sunday Times: “Carlo Ancelotti was very, very clear and that’s the best way in football.
“He killed the story by saying, ‘No money can buy Ashley Cole, Ashley Cole needs to stay’.
“I think Ashley thought about leaving for personal and professional reasons. We thought about him because he’s a good player who I enjoyed working with.
“But when a coach says no, it’s no, and we have to accept that.”
