Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid is set to become significantly more expensive after the club missed a crucial financial deadline at Benfica. Reports from Bild and Portuguese media confirm that Madrid could have secured the 63-year-old manager for €7 million before Tuesday's expiration of his release clause. That window has now closed, forcing the Spanish giants to activate the full €14 million buyout if they proceed with the appointment.
The timing could hardly be worse for the Bernabéu hierarchy. President Florentino Pérez staged an unusual mid-May press conference where he attacked what he termed a "smear campaign" against the club and called for fresh presidential elections. For the first time, a rival candidate has formally challenged Pérez's leadership, creating organizational uncertainty at a critical moment. According to reports, the Mourinho deal—originally scheduled for completion on Whit Monday—has been suspended pending the election outcome.
A Dressing Room in Turmoil
Mourinho arrives to manage a club in considerable disarray. His predecessor Álvaro Arbeloa lasted only months after Xabi Alonso's brief tenure ended following January's Supercopa defeat to Barcelona. The 2024-25 season saw Madrid stumble across multiple competitions: they crashed out of the Copa del Rey to lower-division Albacete, fell behind Barcelona in La Liga, and exited the Champions League quarter-finals to Bayern Munich. Internal friction has intensified, with reports of heated clashes between senior players including Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde. The protracted uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappé's contract has only amplified the tension.
Mourinho's previous Real Madrid spell from 2010 to 2013 produced mixed results despite his reputation as one of football's elite tacticians. His unbeaten league record at Benfica last season failed to deliver silverware—Porto claimed the title while Benfica fell in the cup quarter-finals and Champions League round of 16. When "The Special One" takes the reins this summer, he faces the monumental task of restoring harmony and competitive standards to a fractured squad. The manager's appointment itself now depends on Madrid's internal politics, a complication that extends far beyond the pitch.
