The Portuguese coach, 50, agreed a four-year deal to take over once again at Stamford Bridge after he left Real Madrid at the end of last season.
There had been suggestions Mourinho, a Champions League winner with Inter Milan after leaving England almost six years ago, was in the frame for the United post when Ferguson stepped down as well as on Manchester City's list of potential replacements for the axed Roberto Mancini.
However, Mourinho maintains there was only ever going to be one destination for him this summer, which he happily shared with Ferguson, who also revealed to the Portuguese his own plans to stand down after one last campaign at the helm long before that news became public knowledge.
He said: "I knew that Ferguson was retiring many months ago, and I am so happy with his trust because it was big news for the world - I can imagine that just a very small circle around him knew that, and it was a big responsibility for me to know that.
"Why do I know that? Because we are friends, so if I am his friend to know that he is going to retire, he is also my friend to know that the club I want to coach in England is Chelsea. Of course I told him I want to come to Chelsea."
Mourinho added: "I would have turned down every job in the world, the Manchester United job, everyone, for Chelsea I would turn down every job in the world."