José Mourinho emerges as Florentino Pérez’s top candidate to take over as coach of Real Madrid next season. According to information released by the The Athletic portal, the president of the Spanish club prefers the Portuguese coach to reformulate the project after a year without winning titles. The decision, however, is not a consensus among club directors.
Álvaro Arbeloa, who has led the team since January when he replaced Xabi Alonso, is unlikely to remain in his position. The Merengue team has accumulated frustrating results: it is eleven points behind Barcelona in the LaLiga table and fell in the round of 16 of Champions. Este will be the second consecutive year without a title for the club.
Histórico from Mourinho into Real Madrid
The Portuguese coach previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, a period in which he won three important trophies. Seu’s highlight was the conquest of Campeonato Espanhol from 2011/12, when they directly faced Barcelona from Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi. Naquela season, Mourinho created a memorable rivalry that marked the history of Spanish football.
Desde After leaving Real, the coach played for several major European clubs:
- Chelsea (return after previous pass)
- Manchester United
- Tottenham Hotspur
- AS Roma (Itália)
- Fenerbahçe (Turquia)
- Benfica (current club, since the start of the 2025/26 season)
Mourinho’s trajectory proves its experience in dealing with high investment projects and constant pressure, characteristics that define Real Madrid.
The contractual situation at Benfica
The main obstacle to Mourinho’s transfer lies in his commitment to Benfica. The coach still has one year left on his contract with the Portuguese club. Porém, there is an important loophole that could facilitate your exit.
Mourinho’s contract has a special clause that opens a ten-day “window” at the end of the season. Esta contractual provision would allow the technician to leave Benfica at no additional cost, eliminating the need for complex financial negotiations with the Lisboa team. The situation offers a viable path forward for Florentino Pérez, which has historically sought practical solutions to its market movements.
Recent Encontro between Mourinho and Real Madrid
Curiosamente, Mourinho faced Real Madrid a few months ago. In February, his Benfica faced the Spanish in the Champions League round of 16 playoffs. Durante In this match, the Portuguese coach drew attention due to the negative reaction after a celebration by Vinícius Júnior. The episode was later linked to allegations of racism, generating controversy in the European press and on social media.
Apesar from this incident, Florentino Pérez’s preference remains firm in relation to the Portuguese coach. The president values Mourinho’s international experience and his proven ability to win in different European leagues.
The context of changes in Real Madrid
The current technical management of Real Madrid presents numbers that justify the planned reformulation. The Whites club did not win any trophies in 2024/25, repeating the scenario of failure in 2025/26. Esta situation is practically unprecedented in the recent history of Real Madrid under the command of Florentino Pérez, known for his intolerance with seasons without titles.
The Portuguese coach represents a profile that the president believes is capable of reversing this situation. Mourinho is known for his ability to quickly adapt to existing rosters and implement tactical changes that yield immediate results. Seu history includes significant transformations in Chelsea, Manchester United, and Roma.
Reações internals and uncertainties
The information released by the press is not unanimous within the merengue institution. Nem all members of the leadership support the return of Mourinho. Internal discussions reflect different views on which path to take to regain the club’s competitiveness.
Florentino Pérez, however, has demonstrated leadership in Real Madrid’s technical decisions. Sua preference for Mourinho suggests that the president plans a move that puts the Portuguese in command regardless of opposing positions. Este’s performance pattern is typical of Florentino, who tends to impose his choices when he is convinced about a certain contract.
Perspectivas for next season
The possible arrival of Mourinho to Real Madrid would represent an important bet on experience and greed for titles. The coach has always shown ambition to win all the tournaments he commands and often publicly criticizes his teams when he assesses that their performance is below expectations.
Real Madrid seeks to regain its hegemony in LaLiga and reaffirm its strength in the Liga of the Campeões. Neste context, a coach with Mourinho’s victorious history could be the solution that Florentino Pérez believes is necessary to return to the top of European football.