Real Madrid hold talks over Jose Mourinho return
The Athletic has reside protection of Barcelona vs. Real Madrid.
Real Madrid are in talks about the opportunity of appointing Jose Mourinho as their subsequent head coach.
TheAthletic reported last week that Mourinho was president Florentino Perez’s favored candidate to interchange Alvaro Arbeloa, who was promoted from the membership’s reserve crew in January following the sacking of Xabi Alonso.
Madrid have additionally thought of different candidates, together with United States supervisor Mauricio Pochettino, whereas ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and present AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri are additionally admired. France coach Didier Deschamps has additionally been talked about internally as a potential possibility.
However, there isn’t any indication Madrid have superior their curiosity in any of these names to the extent they now have with Mourinho.
Talks are ongoing with agent Jorge Mendes engaged on Mourinho’s behalf, with the 63-year-old’s preliminary place outlined as Perez ponders his resolution.
There is not any suggestion at this stage of club-to-club negotiations between Madrid and Benfica and any settlement would require a launch charge within the area of €3million (£2.6m; $3.5m) being paid. Mourinho’s contract with the Portuguese membership runs till June 2027, nevertheless it has a clause permitting him to go away inside 10 days of the top of their season if that sum is met.
While the previous Chelsea and Manchester United coach is completely happy in Portugal, the place Benfica are eager to retain him on recent phrases, he’s understandably open to the opportunity of a return to a spot he holds within the highest regard.
Klopp has lengthy been admired in Madrid, however the German has a number of occasions insisted, publicly and in personal, that he’s completely happy in his position as Red Bull’s international head of soccer, a place he took up in January 2025.
Pochettino, in the meantime, stated in early April that he can be open to staying on as USMNT coach after the World Cup — and that he had not held any talks with Madrid.
Multiple sources have been instructed TheAthletic that the choice on who will turn out to be Madrid’s subsequent coach is being pushed by Perez.
That is in distinction to the hiring of Alonso to interchange Carlo Ancelotti on the finish of final season, a course of which was led by Madrid’s common supervisor Jose Angel Sanchez, however lastly permitted by Perez.
Madrid’s 79-year-old president needs to rebuild a mission that has failed into disrepair, with the membership set to finish a second consecutive marketing campaign with out profitable a serious trophy reminiscent of La Liga, the Champions League or the Copa del Rey.
Mourinho has been at Benfica since September, after being sacked by Fenerbahce final summer time.
He gained three trophies in his earlier three-year stint at Madrid, main the best way to the 2011-12 La Liga title by setting a brand new file factors whole alongside triumphs within the Copa del Rey (2011) and Supercopa de Espana (2013).
