Real Madrid would need to pay SL Benfica €15 million to appoint José Mourinho as head coach, according to a confirmation from the Portuguese club ahead of a possible move tied to the Spanish club’s upcoming presidential election.
Benfica stated that it had been officially notified of plans linked to Florentino Pérez’s presidential bid to bring José Mourinho back to the Santiago Bernabéu.
The club explained that any release from Mourinho’s current contract would activate a €15 million clause.
Mourinho, 63, is contracted to Benfica until June 2027, but has emerged as the preferred coaching option for Pérez as Real Madrid considers a managerial change after two trophyless seasons.
The development comes just days before Real Madrid’s presidential election, where Pérez faces challenger Enrique Riquelme in the first contested vote since 2006.
The outcome could influence the club’s coaching direction, with Mourinho seen as a central figure in Pérez’s sporting plans.
Riquelme has not publicly named a coaching target but has outlined a restructuring approach involving club legends in key football operations roles, including Raúl González and Fernando Hierro, alongside ambitions to strengthen the squad with high-profile signings.
If approved and executed, the move would mark Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid more than a decade after his first spell at the club.
