Real Madrid has set its sights on Jose Mourinho as their next manager, but plans for his appointment have been temporarily postponed. This delay follows the announcement of elections after the club’s electoral board approved Enrique Riquelme’s candidacy, who will contest Florentino Perez for the presidency.
Perez has been the principal advocate for Mourinho’s return, planning to welcome him back 13 years after his initial tenure. He has also finalized a two-year contract with Mourinho. However, the ongoing election process has hindered the completion of these arrangements, which may ultimately prove expensive for Real Madrid.
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According to Diario AS, Mourinho’s release clause at Benfica, set at €7 million, will expire on Tuesday. If Real Madrid does not activate it by then, they could be asked to pay €15 million to secure their top managerial choice.
The €15 million reflects Mourinho’s gross salary at Benfica and would be the starting demand from the Portuguese club if his exit clause is not triggered. While there may be potential for negotiation to reduce this figure, it is improbable it will fall back to the original €7 million.
Mourinho remains optimistic
As for Mourinho, he remains unfazed by the situation. Eager to return to Real Madrid for a second term, he does not view this delay as a sign that his opportunity is slipping away.
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It will be interesting to monitor any developments regarding Real Madrid and Mourinho in the next 24 hours. While significant progress is unlikely in that timeframe, there remains ample time until pre-season for a resolution and the finalization of the earlier agreement.