Jose Mourinho is widely tipped to take charge of Real Madrid once again, yet the official confirmation of his comeback has not been made, leaving fans at the Santiago Bernabeu eagerly waiting. Although a verbal understanding is reportedly in place, a combination of institutional and financial challenges has caused a delay in finalising the Special One’s much-anticipated return.
Presidential elections stall operations at the Bernabeu
According to Diario AS, the main cause of the delay lies in the sudden political turbulence within the club. Real Madrid is preparing for its first contested presidential election since 2006, with long-time president Florentino Perez facing a challenge from Enrique Riquelme. This internal contest has diverted attention from managerial matters as Perez concentrates on securing another term before implementing major leadership decisions.
Mourinho is reportedly keeping a close eye on the election developments and remains confident that Perez will retain his position. There are even suggestions that Perez might use the two-year deal offered to the Portuguese manager as a major part of his re-election campaign. For now, the Benfica coach must wait until the votes are counted before he can officially sign his contract.
The €7 million release clause setback
Further complications have arisen on the financial front concerning Mourinho’s departure from Benfica. A clause in his existing contract with the Lisbon-based club, which would have allowed Real Madrid to secure his services for a fixed amount of €7 million, expired on May 26. Due to the delay caused by the presidential elections, Los Blancos missed the opportunity to activate this lower-cost release clause.
This situation has strengthened Benfica’s bargaining position. Relations between the two clubs have already become strained following disputes involving the transfers of Alvaro Carreras and the Gianluca Prestianni–Vinicius Junior issue. As a result, Real Madrid will now have to engage in direct negotiations with Benfica to reach an agreement, putting an end to hopes of a swift and economical managerial appointment as they seek to replace Alvaro Arbeloa.
Preparing for a summer rebuild
Despite these administrative setbacks, Mourinho has reportedly started planning for the club’s summer overhaul. Reports indicate that he has requested the signing of Danish international Morten Hjulmand to strengthen the midfield. The Sporting CP captain is expected to cost around €50 million.
In addition, Mourinho is said to be considering a surprise move for Marcus Rashford, the former Manchester United player who spent the last season on loan at Barcelona. The veteran manager also plans to reshape his coaching staff and is believed to be interested in offering club legend Toni Kroos a position as an assistant.
Mourinho’s renewed drive for success
Mourinho views this return as a chance to complete unfinished business. During his previous tenure at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, he led the team to three consecutive UEFA Champions League semi-finals but never managed to claim the trophy. After guiding Benfica through an unbeaten league season that still fell short of winning the title due to too many draws, the Portuguese tactician is said to be eager to bring silverware back to Madrid.
The proposed contract structure reflects this ambition, with a third year set to be automatically added if Mourinho wins the La Liga title. Having previously achieved a record 100-point season during his initial spell, the 61-year-old is viewed as the ideal figure to restore stability and a winning mentality to a squad that has gone two seasons without lifting a major trophy.
