Real Madrid is set to pay Benfica a fee of €15 million for José Mourinho’s return as head coach, contingent on Florentino Pérez’s re-election as Madrid’s president, as announced by the Portuguese club on Thursday.
This announcement follows Pérez’s campaign revelation that Mourinho, who previously managed Madrid from 2010 to 2013, is his top choice to lead the club next season, as they seek to recover from two seasons without major silverware.
In a statement to Portugal‘s financial regulator, Benfica disclosed that they had been informed of Pérez’s interest in bringing Mourinho back for a second tenure at the Bernabéu.
Benfica’s statement, submitted to Portugal’s financial regulator CMVM, indicates, “As part of President Florentino Pérez’s campaign for the Real Madrid CF presidency, he has expressed a strong intention to appoint José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix as manager if he secures victory in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for June 7, 2026.”
Mourinho, aged 63, is under contract with Benfica until June 2027.
Pérez is vying against businessman Enrique Riquelme in Sunday’s election, marking the first time since 2006 that Madrid’s members will choose between two candidates.
While Riquelme has not disclosed his preferred coaching candidate, he has indicated that club legend Raúl González would serve as his director of football, with Fernando Hierro directing Madrid’s academy, as he promises to pursue signings of Erling Haaland and Rodri from Manchester City.