Ranieri: Mourinho Issues "Prehistoric'

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri says Jose Mourinho "is a fantastic person" and any issues between the two are "prehistoric".

The champions play Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, with the two managers having clashed in the past.

Mourinho called Ranieri "a loser" after replacing him at Chelsea and also insulted him while Inter Milan boss.

Ranieri said: "Mourinho is a fantastic manager, intelligent, clever. "[The issues] were a long time ago."

Mourinho replaced Ranieri at Chelsea in 2004 and said that the club considered the Italian to be "a loser", before the pair repeatedly fell out while both managing in Serie A.

The Manchester United boss won the treble with Inter at the end of his three-year spell 2010, with Ranieri in charge of Juventus and Roma during that period.

Mourinho criticised Ranieri's command of English, said he was "almost 70" when he was 56 and again questioned whether he had the mentality to win titles.

But Ranieri said any complaints were "prehistoric, not now."

"It [their relationship] is fantastic, very good, no problems," he said.

"Why? Do you remember in the summer when we had the Soccer Aid, I managed the Rest of the World team against Jose's English side.

"Maybe he has to offer me a good red wine. I love red wine and if he offers I will go and drink it with him [after Saturday's game]."

Credit: BBC Sport