Mourinho managed Chelsea for four seasons since 2004, an era where Lampard emerged as one of the top class midfielders in the world under the Portuguese tactician.

"Frank Lampard is a different kind of person, not so extroverted. He is the best professional I have ever worked with," Mourinho said in an interview on Feelfootball.com.

"He's the player that trains better, has more concentration, more commitment and is always focused on himself."

Lampard was strongly linked with Inter after Mourinho took charge, but Chelsea refused to sell their vice-captain.

However, Mourinho said earlier that he is adamant that the 30-year-old will join Inter in 2009.

Incredibly Professional

Mourinho has also sung praises of his former employee back in May.

"He is never happy about his performance, always wants to improve, always wants to learn," he said earlier.

"If he makes a mistake in a game, the next day in training he wants to stay one more hour to practice exactly that situation.

"I remember he missed a goal once with a difficult left-foot volley and the next day in training he was there one hour after the training session practicing that volley with the left foot.

"He is incredibly professional. God gave players the talent... but some of them waste this talent but some of them with this kind of mentality make themselves better and these are the kind of the players that can last forever."