25 May 2026 14:56 BST |
4 min read
Real Madrid face the prospect of paying more than twice as much as they anticipated in order to secure the services of Jose Mourinho.
The Benfica coach appeared destined to complete a stunning return to the Bernabeu following the end of the Portuguese season, but those have been stalled.
Florentino Perez’s decision to hold an election at Real Madrid has postponed Mourinho’s return. The incumbent president has been challenged by Enrique Riquelme, who has earmarked Jurgen Klopp for a major role in the sporting side of the club.
Election stalls Moutinho appointment
This unexpected delay is set to cost Madrid significantly, according to a report from Portuguese outlet Record.
Mourinho has a release clause in his Benfica contract that allows him to leave for €7m during a 10-day window at the end of the season. However, if this is missed, the figure rises to €18m.
Real Madrid are poised to miss this all-important deadline, with Florentino Perez, the incumbent president, having scheduled the election for 7 June.
Mourinho will likely only be announced as the new boss at the Bernabeu after that date – and only if Perez, as expected, wins.
What does the delay mean?
The implications for both clubs are significant. Real Madrid face the prospect of paying an extra €8m to Benfica for Mourinho, but at the Portuguese side there is concern that their coaching situation is in limbo until that point.
Fulham manager Marco Silva has been lined up by the Portuguese side to take over from the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager in Lisbon, but he is being pressed to commit his future to the London club. It is unclear if he will be willing to wait upon the outcome of this process.
Two unexpected scenarios
Record points out that the stalemate could be solved either internally at Benfica or via Mourinho himself. Both are unlikely scenarios given the implications.
First, Benfica president Rui Costa could pay off Mourinho’s contract – effectively sacking him – and pressing ahead for the new season by appointing a new manager. This would at least provide the club with some sense of certainty in terms of their future.
The alternative that the Portuguese media suggests is that Mourinho takes the risk himself and pays himself out of his own Benfica contract and becomes unemployed until the Real Madrid election. It points out that this is, however, improbable.
Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid seemed straightforward a week ago, but the situation has become clouded and while it still feels likely that he will head back to the Bernabeu, it promises to be a more complicated and expensive operation than the Spanish side might have wished.
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