Benfica preparing themselves to lose Mourinho this summer

The biggest question hanging over Real Madrid right now is simple: Who will coach the team next season? With Álvaro Arbeloa officially out of the running, one name has surged far above the rest — José Mourinho.

According to reporting from Spain, the renewed connection between Madrid’s leadership and Mourinho began when the Portuguese coach’s camp reached out to offer a possible return to the club he once called home. That initial proposal has gained serious traction inside Valdebebas.

Club officials now view the former Champions League winner with Porto and Inter as the strongest candidate to lead the major overhaul the locker room desperately needs — a crisis that has become increasingly visible through recent public statements and internal tension.

Benfica braced for Mourinho’s possible exit

Benfica, fully aware of the movement around its current manager, is trying hard to keep him. The club wants Mourinho to continue the project he began last September — ideally for at least one more season.

But despite repeated efforts from club president Rui Costa and his team to extend Mourinho’s contract, talks have stalled. What once seemed unthinkable in Lisbon — Mourinho leaving after less than a year — is now starting to feel real.

As reported by AS, Mourinho’s exit clause is €3 million, roughly $3.2 million, a far smaller figure than the €8 million Bayer Leverkusen paid last year to secure Xabi Alonso.

Quiet conversations, strong signals

Publicly, Mourinho insists he has had no direct contact with Real Madrid. But Benfica doesn’t share that confidence.

In recent years, the relationship between Mourinho and Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has evolved into one of mutual respect — even friendship. Now, both sides appear to be circling the same idea: reuniting as president and manager once again.

Nothing is official yet, but the momentum is unmistakable. If both parties take the final step, Mourinho could be headed back to the Bernabéu — and Real Madrid’s next era might look a lot like its past.

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