Real return is delayed
©IMAGO
José Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid has been delayed for weeks. For the Spaniards, the upcoming presidential election prevents the obligation. If this goes in favor of Florentino Pérez, they want to draw on the exit clause that the former Madrilenian has anchored in his Benfica contract. The Lisbon club confirmed this intention on Thursday and gave figures that show that Real’s chaotic conditions are costing the club significantly more than necessary.
Real president Pérez, who is standing for re-election at Los Blancos on June 7, 2026, has “expressed his firm intention to sign coach José Mourinho if he wins the club’s presidential elections.” This is what Benfica wrote in a statement sent to the Portuguese stock exchange on Thursday. “Should this scenario occur, the commitment will be made through the payment of 15 million euros, in line with the exit clause of the currently valid coaching contract.” So far there has been talk of a necessary sum of 6 million euros. However, “The Athletic” recently reported that the deadline for this tariff expired ten days after the end of the season in May. Previously it was only worth 3 million euros – a fifth of today’s price.
This means that Mourinho Rel once again costs an amount in this price range. Back in 2010, the capital club paid 16 million euros to get Mourinho away from Inter Milan. The Champions League title that Mourinho won with the Italian club in the same year was not granted to the Madrilenians under the Portuguese. Mourinho only stayed for around two and a half years.
A new two-year contract in Madrid is now waiting for Mourinho, who has been said to have agreed on it with his former club for weeks. Mourinho missed the championship with Benfica this season and was eliminated from the Champions League in the second round against Real. After 45 competitive games, the twelfth head coaching position will probably come to an end shortly.
In Madrid, former Leverkusen master coach Xabi Alonso had to leave after half the season, and his hapless successor Álvaro Arbeloa was unable to turn things around. The team around French striker Kylian Mbappé repeatedly made headlines due to turbulence outside of the games. In this situation, Mourinho is seen as the only option capable of bringing order to the powder keg. How chaotic the situation is is illustrated not least by the ever-increasing price paid to Mourinho due to his lack of ability to act.