José Mourinho’s Real Madrid return takes unexpected twist
Everything appears to be in place for Mourinho’s return, yet an unexpected development has altered the timeline.

José Mourinho will be announced by Real Madrid shortly, but his official unveiling will not take place right away.
It is an unusual decision, one that club insiders have done little to explain. There are indications that Mourinho himself played a significant role in the timing. The current plan is for his presentation to take place in July. No exact date has been set, but there is a clear deadline: before July 13, when Real Madrid is scheduled to begin preseason training.
As the days pass, the details will become clearer. For now, this is the roadmap being discussed at Valdebebas.
Official announcement imminent
The first step is making the appointment official, a process that has dragged on longer than many expected.
The announcement was initially expected on Monday, but the spotlight at the Santiago Bernabéu was dominated by the Pope’s visit, leading the club to delay its plans.
It was then expected on Tuesday. However, Mourinho’s arrival in Madrid was pushed back until later in the day. Although the final details were eventually completed, including a stock market notification filed shortly after 11 p.m. local time, the club once again chose to wait. By then, the timing was no longer considered ideal.
🚨 Initial meeting at Real Madrid took place last night with management team and José Mourinho involved.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 10, 2026
Long meeting to discuss players/strategies.
Mourinho, expected to be presented to the press and fans in July — and not now. ❗️ pic.twitter.com/8pz30irefM
Mourinho countdown begins
Monday came and went. Tuesday passed as well.
Now all eyes are on Wednesday.
According to sources at Valdebebas, today remains the target date for the announcement. No specific time has been communicated, meaning it could happen at any moment.
Earlier Wednesday, Mourinho bid farewell to Benfica in a brief message on social media. Every step of the process has now been completed except the most important one: Real Madrid’s official confirmation.
The countdown is on.
Real Madrid’s preseason starts July 13
Once the announcement arrives, Real Madrid will enter a somewhat unusual phase.
Mourinho’s presentation is expected to be postponed until July, creating a significant gap between the announcement and his public unveiling. The club’s schedule leaves little room for alternatives. With preseason currently set to begin on July 13, roughly one month before the start of the LaLiga season, there is not enough time to wait until after the World Cup period to hold the event.
Whether Real Madrid will organize a short international training camp before the season remains another open question.
One step at a time.
For now, the focus is Mourinho. His appointment is expected to be announced shortly. After that, there will be a pause. No spotlight, no grand presentation, at least not until July.
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