Real Madrid is set to accelerate discussions with Jose Mourinho next week, as club president Florentino Perez personally drives the pursuit of a new manager following a challenging season. Despite Mourinho’s public denials of any direct contact, his agent, Jorge Mendes, has already engaged in positive discussions with Perez, according to GMS.
Further meetings between Mendes and Perez are reportedly scheduled to take place after Sunday’s highly anticipated El Clasico. Mourinho, currently managing Benfica, is understood to be Perez’s leading choice for the role, with the 63-year-old Portuguese coach topping a shortlist that also includes Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp, and Massimiliano Allegri, none of whom have yet received formal contact from Real Madrid.
Mourinho’s public stance and contract situation
Mourinho has publicly maintained that he has not been in contact with Real Madrid, asserting his focus remains solely on Benfica until the end of the season. “I had no contact whatsoever, neither with the President, nor with any of the important people in the structure,” Mourinho stated. “And by my own decision, a decision similar to others I’ve made throughout my career, especially now, in the final stages of the season, I don’t speak to anyone.”
He further clarified his position, adding, “I haven’t had any contact with Real Madrid, I haven’t, and until the last league game against Estoril, I won’t either. After that, there’s a one-week window where I’ll have the freedom to speak to whomever I feel I should speak to, but all the stories that have come out, demands, meetings, it’s all speculation.”
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Mourinho’s current contract with Benfica runs until 2027 and includes a €3 million release clause. While Benfica wishes for him to stay and had previously anticipated his departure for the Portugal national team after the 2026 World Cup, the club reportedly has a succession plan in place. Sources in Portugal suggest that Fulham boss Marco Silva is a candidate under consideration to replace Mourinho should he make the move to Madrid, even as Fulham has a three-year contract extension offer on the table for Silva.
Real Madrid’s season of struggles
Real Madrid’s urgency in appointing a new manager stems from a difficult campaign. The club sacked Xabi Alonso earlier in the season and currently has Álvaro Arbeloa in charge. They are set to lose the LaLiga title to rivals Barcelona and were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Bayern. While agreeing personal terms with Mourinho is not expected to be an hurdle, aligning on recruitment plans will be a key aspect of any potential agreement.
Sources: www.givemesport.com
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