Delayed by Presidential Election, Madrid Pays a Heavy Price to Secure Mourinho
Mansion Sports – Jose Mourinho has reached an agreement to return to Real Madrid on a three-year contract, but the move has become complicated due to significant financial developments.
While “The Special One” prepares for a sensational second spell at Santiago Bernabéu, the timing of the agreement has caused his release clause to more than double.
Presidential Election Delays Real Madrid Announcement
The veteran Portuguese coach is widely expected to become the next figure on the Real Madrid bench, but the move has encountered a temporary administrative obstacle.
According to RTP, the main reason for the delay is the emergence of political dynamics at Santiago Bernabéu, where Florentino Pérez is facing a contested presidential election for the first time in two decades.
Although a verbal agreement for a three-year contract has reportedly been reached, PĂ©rez has been forced to prioritize his campaign against challenger Enrique Riquelme.
This internal power struggle has prevented the official signing of documents, which means Mourinho remains technically tied to his current role at Benfica while the voting process is still ongoing.
Benfica Gains Major Advantage After Clause Expires
This delay has proven costly for the Spanish giants. The special window that allowed Real Madrid to activate a €7 million release fee officially expired on Tuesday, 26 May.
As a result, any interested party must now pay a much higher amount to take the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager out of Lisbon.
After the deadline passed, Mourinho’s release clause at Benfica increased to €15 million. This development gives Benfica president Rui Costa a much stronger position in negotiations, as the Portuguese club can now demand the full amount or force Los Blancos into direct and difficult negotiations to reach an agreement.
Unfinished Business for The Special One
Despite the financial and political complications, Mourinho remains calm and fully committed to the move.
He previously spent three seasons in the Spanish capital between 2010 and 2013, winning the La Liga title with a record 100 points but failing to deliver La DĂ©cima for the club during that period.
He sees this return, 13 years later, as an opportunity to finish what he started.
The terms of the new agreement are reportedly built around his ability to restore domestic dominance.
Although the base contract runs for three years, there are performance-based triggers that would strengthen his tenure if he succeeds in bringing the league title back to Santiago Bernabéu within his first 24 months.
Benfica Targets Marco Silva as Potential Replacement
This situation has left Benfica’s summer planning in uncertainty, especially after their failure to secure automatic qualification for the Europa League group stage.
Rui Costa is now under increasing pressure from supporters to resolve the deadlock regarding the managerial position quickly so the club can begin preseason preparations seriously.
After reportedly being rejected by Ruben Amorim, Benfica have now shifted their attention to Fulham’s Marco Silva.
Benfica are working intensively to convince Silva to leave the Premier League and return to Portugal to fill the vacancy that will inevitably be left by Mourinho once the election in Madrid is concluded and the €15 million fee is settled.