Real Madrid Faces Deadline in Pursuit of Mourinho Amid Election Delays
Real Madrid has set its sights on Jose Mourinho as the next manager, but progress has stalled due to upcoming elections. The club’s electoral board has ratified Enrique Riquelme as a challenger to Florentino Perez for the presidency, causing delays in finalizing Mourinho’s return. Florentino Perez has been a key proponent of bringing back Mourinho, who previously managed the team 13 years ago. A two-year contract with the current Benfica head coach has been agreed upon, but the election situation has complicated matters. Key details include: Mourinho’s exit clause at Benfica is valued at €7m, expiring on Tuesday. If Real Madrid fails to activate this clause, the cost to bring Mourinho will rise to €15m. This amount matches Mourinho’s gross salary at Benfica and represents the initial demands from the Portuguese club. While negotiations may occur to lower this figure, it is unlikely to return to the original €7m. Mourinho remains calm about the ongoing situation. Eager for a return to Real Madrid, he does not perceive this delay as a loss of opportunity. As the deadline approaches, it will be crucial to watch for any developments in the next 24 hours, although there is ample time before pre-season for resolutions to take place.
Source: Football España - 2026-05-26