The contract clause that could put Mourinho back on Madrid’s doorstep

José Mourinho created the perfect storm around Real Madrid in the game at the end of January. At that point, Arbeloa was navigating treacherous ground, with the locker room still digesting Xabi Alonso’s departure and fans visibly on edge. The game arrived at a breaking point for the new coach, with the elimination against Albacete still fresh and no clear playing identity in sight. And in that setting, Mourinho’s presence loomed large – the master against the pupil. What unfolded on the turf at Das Antas looked very much like a tactical lesson.

Could Mourinho return to Real Madrid?

Mourinho’s shadow still stretches long over Real Madrid, and therefore over Arbeloa himself, because of the imprint he left on Florentino Pérez and part of the fan base. At a time when the locker room shows signs of feeling empowered in its dealings with coaches – to the point of contributing to Xabi’s exit – talk of a possible Portuguese return lingers in the air. There is, in fact, a clause that, while not currently under consideration by Madrid’s board, places Mourinho within reach.

The Portuguese coach, who has signed a two-season deal in Lisbon, can walk away from Benfica within 10 days of the club’s final game of the season without paying any financial penalty. He would be free to join any team without triggering a release clause, a detail that would ease any potential move to Madrid or elsewhere. Rui Costa brought Mourinho back to Benfica during an election period at the club. Though the move helped him win the vote, both parties agreed to leave that door open should Rui Costa ultimately not be re-elected.

Mourinho is enjoying a happy homecoming. He is settled in Lisbon. While he has made no public declaration on the matter, it is well known that he has sympathies for Benfica, and on a personal level living in Portugal allows him to spend more time with his family and enjoy freedoms he previously lacked. Until now, London had been his primary residence. At Benfica, he is far closer to those closest to him. Meanwhile, well-placed sources at AS indicate that the prospect of coaching Portugal’s national team after the World Cup remains distant. The Portuguese federation believes his personality is too dominant, too all-encompassing, for the project to function smoothly.

Mourinho intends to stay at Benfica and shape a project more aligned with his style next season. Yet, as those same sources concede, a call from Madrid could change everything. The connection to the white club remains. Contrary to recent reports, his relationship with Florentino Pérez has been minimal in recent years. Changes of address and phone numbers led to a loss of contact. They were unable to meet in Lisbon in late January because Pérez did not travel. The Madrid president will decide Tuesday whether to attend the first leg of the round of 32, but if not in Lisbon, they will at last see each other again in Madrid for the return game.

Mourinho remains close to Madrid

A comment Mourinho made after the January 28 game reignited speculation about a return. “I was very close to going to the Bernabéu for the first time since I left,” he said when asked about a possible meeting between Madrid and Benfica, which ultimately did materialize. “My friend Óscar Ribot had everything arranged, but the day before I got a call from Benfica and had to come sign.”

What might appear as a preliminary step toward a second Madrid chapter was, in reality, just one stop on a broader tour Mourinho planned after leaving Fenerbahce. He wanted to introduce his coaching staff and visit major European soccer cities, observe training facilities, and watch games. Madrid was simply the first destination, followed by London, Manchester, Milan and Turin. Even so, it is hard to ignore that the trip would have offered a timely reunion with Pérez at a moment when Xabi Alonso was under intense scrutiny.

Now, with this two-leg tie underway, Mourinho’s presence once again hovers over Arbeloa – the master facing the pupil. Mourinho went from calling him “Álvaro is my boy” to celebrating wildly in front of him as Benfica secured a historic qualification – remarkable both for its scale and its drama, sealed by a last-minute goal from Trubin in a thrilling 4-2 win. He later apologized. But before that, he had shown the world that he remains capable of elevating a team well beyond its perceived limits.

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