By Kwame Bediako
Jose Mourinho has agreed to return to Real Madrid on a two‑year deal, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reporting that personal terms are settled and only formalities remain to be completed this week. The move has been widely anticipated, with Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez reportedly favouring Mourinho as the replacement for the current coaching setup.
The current situation
Mourinho still has 12 months left on his contract at Benfica, but his deal includes a 10‑day escape clause that activated at the weekend, allowing him to exit the club. After Benfica’s 3‑1 win over Estoril, Mourinho confirmed he has a renewal offer from Benfica but admitted “there is something with Real Madrid,” while stressing that no contract has been signed and no direct talks have yet taken place with Pérez.
Why Real Madrid want Mourinho back
Madrid have had a turbulent season, finishing without a trophy as Barcelona dominated La Liga, while internal tensions between coach Álvaro Arbeloa and star striker Kylian Mbappé, plus a training‑ground clash between Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde, have raised concerns about discipline and cohesion.Pérez is said to be seeking a strong, experienced figure to restore order and identity, and he believes Mourinho’s authority and winning mentality can help stabilise the club.
Mourinho’s career trajectory
During his first spell at Real Madrid (2010–2013), Mourinho won La Liga once and the Copa del Rey but failed to deliver the Champions League, despite a strong side. After leaving Madrid he enjoyed Premier League success back at Chelsea in 2014–15, but later spells at Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma and Fenerbahçe have been seen as underwhelming compared with his earlier peak, when he won two Champions League titles and multiple league titles with Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan.
If the move is confirmed, Mourinho’s return to the Bernabéu would represent a high‑risk, high‑profile attempt by Pérez to reclaim Madrid’s dominance in both Spain and Europe.
