Mourinho set to return to Real Madrid, Benfica confirms €15m transfer

José Mourinho is set to return to Real Madrid, thirteen years after leaving the club. Benfica has confirmed the departure of its head coach to the Madrid club, with his release clause set at €15 million.

In an official statement, the Lisbon club clarified that this transfer remains conditional on Florentino Pérez’s re-election as Real Madrid president, with voting scheduled for Sunday. “In that case, the hiring will take place for an amount of €15,000,000, corresponding to the termination clause of the current employment contract,” Benfica stated. Florentino Pérez himself called these early elections following a difficult season for the merengue club. Since 2009, he had been systematically re-elected without opposition. Spanish entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme, specializing in renewable energy, is considering challenging him for the presidency, but his re-election is considered highly likely.

Mourinho managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, during which he won La Liga in 2012, two Copa del Rey titles in 2011 and 2013, and a Spanish Super Cup in 2012. The 63-year-old Portuguese coach, however, failed to win the UEFA Champions League with the “Casa Blanca”: the club was eliminated in the semi-finals three consecutive times, by FC Barcelona in 2011, Bayern Munich in 2012, and Borussia Dortmund in 2013.

His potential return comes at a time of soul-searching at the Madrid club, which is seeking to restore stability on the bench after a season that fell short of expectations.