What do presidential elections mean for Mourinho’s Real Madrid return?
Presidential elections are now looming at Real Madrid, complicating the club’s pursuit of Benfica head coach José Mourinho.
With Real Madrid set to hold presidential elections, José Mourinho has been left in a holding pattern. The Benfica boss, whose return as Bernabéu head coach has been targeted by incumbent president Florentino Pérez, is well aware that the electoral process complicates his potential arrival. To begin with, AS has learned that Benfica intend to seize the moment and try to extract more than the €7 million ($8.1 million) stipulated in the buyout clause for the coach, which remains valid through May 26. After that date, with the clause expired, Madrid would be forced to negotiate directly with the Lisbon club - who are eager to maximize their leverage.
Everything that’s unfolded over the past few months - the departure of Álvaro Carreras, the push-and-pull over his transfer before or after the Club World Cup, Champions League clashes, and the racism row involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinícius Júnior - has eroded relations between the two clubs. Mourinho’s case has been the final straw. Regardless of what happens with his Real Madrid future, the Portuguese coach will not remain at Benfica, even though he still has one year left on his contract.
Mourinho’s mind made up
Mourinho’s exit from Benfica hasn’t been explosive, but it hasn’t been amicable either. The club didn’t take kindly to the 63-year-old publicly revealing that he had received a renewal offer on Thursday and wouldn’t consider it until Sunday - after the final match had been played. By the same token, Mourinho was unhappy with how long Benfica waited to present that renewal, feeling it came almost out of obligation, and only after Madrid had already made contact.
The coach is therefore clear on one point: in the unlikely event that Pérez fails to win the election, his future lies far from Benfica. It’s worth noting that even before Madrid’s interest, Mourinho already had multiple offers from top-tier clubs to move on. For now, he remains on standby. He isn’t overly concerned about how things might unfold, but he is closely tracking developments in the club’s election, fully aware that the process could delay his Real Madrid project by a couple of crucial weeks. Even so, Mourinho is convinced Pérez will prevail.
Mourinho ready for Real return
Mourinho has carefully studied Madrid’s last six or seven matches and drawn up a clear diagnosis of where reinforcements are needed. He also knows that over the next two weeks, Pérez’s focus will be on winning the election rather than implementing Mourinho’s blueprint. The coach is also watching to see whether Pérez will openly declare him as his choice for head coach during the campaign - a move that would significantly strengthen Mourinho’s position heading into the job. Mourinho’s commitment to Madrid is strong. He sees this as the perfect window to put the finishing touch on his career - and finally win the Champions League with Los Blancos after reaching three consecutive semifinals during his 2010-2013 spell at the Bernabéu. His agreement with the club, pending signature, would see him take his place on the Madrid bench for two years, with a third year triggered automatically if he wins LaLiga.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment