Jose Mourinho appears to take ANOTHER dig at Allan Saint-Maximin as he congratulates Marco Silva on reaching 500 games

JOSE MOURINHO appeared to take another dig at Allan Saint-Maximin as he congratulated Marco Silva on managing his 500th game.

Mourinho, 62, has coached Saint-Maximin at Fenerbahce this season.

The former Newcastle favourite signed on loan from Al-Ahli last summer but has since had his professionalism questioned by his boss.

When Mourinho dropped the winger for their Europa League clash with Rangers earlier this month, Saint-Maximin wrote on Instagram: “When a lie takes the elevator, the truth takes the stairs. It takes longer, but it arrives in the end.”

The Portuguese subsequently hit back: “I didn't know Saint-Maximin had a gift for poetry. I'm not bad at it either.

“When a footballer works well, works hard and trains every day, he can be in good form and climb up the stairs. He doesn't need to use the lift.

“By contrast, if a player doesn't train well, turns up late, is overweight and isn't ready to play a match, then he needs to use the lift – as he'll soon get tired on the stairs.”

When contacted by Portuguese paper A Bola about Silva's milestone, Mourinho echoed Saint-Maximin's phrase.

The experienced boss said: “Five-hundred? A beautiful number, which with more grey hairs will reach 600... 700...

“Congratulations Marco, for a beautiful career, based on talent, work, seriousness, discretion.

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“You climbed the stairs, where many had the elevator at their disposal.

“Congratulations for a career made of results and not perceptions. I admire and applaud you.”

Silva, 47, has also been very complimentary of his compatriot.

The Fulham boss said of how Portuguese bosses are viewed in England: “We are certainly well regarded. And we all agree that Jose Mourinho's influence was transcendent.

“After having won what he won in Portugal, arriving in England, having that triumphant entrance and getting Chelsea to play and win titles 50 years later, he ended up being fundamental for the arrival of other Portuguese coaches.

“Andre Villas-Boas followed, who had won the Europa League, and I was the third to arrive.

“But it was Jose Mourinho who opened the doors for us.”

Fenerbahce beat Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox in Saint-Maximin's absence but were dumped out on penalties having lost the first leg 3-1.

They subsequently drew 0-0 at home to Samsunspor ahead of the international break, with Saint-Maximin again not making the matchday squad.

The winger has made just four appearances since before Christmas, often being left as an unused substitute.

He has denied Mourinho's claims about his fitness, claiming to be the same weight as he was in 2022.

The Frenchman also wrote on Instagram: “Lies give you flowers – but they don't bear fruit.”