On April 29, transfer expert Romano updated his personal podcast and talked about the situation related to Mourinho and Real Madrid.
Today we have to focus on the matter between Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid. It is indeed possible for the two parties to reunite again. First of all, I have to confirm again that this is not new news that came out today, but what I have been confirming in recent weeks: Mourinho is absolutely eager and ready to return to Real Madrid.
He is extremely eager to coach again at a club that he has a special affection for, and has a great relationship with club president Florentino Perez. Mourinho's relationship with Real Madrid, whether with the club itself or with the fans there, is a very important point that cannot be ignored.
He is grateful for the recent support from Real Madrid fans and, of course, the recognition from the president. Therefore, from Mourinho's point of view, there is no doubt about the answer to the situation of coaching Real Madrid, and he completely agrees with it.
Next, let’s talk about Real Madrid’s situation. I already revealed in advance in yesterday's video that Florentino Perez will independently decide on the next head coach of Real Madrid. Over the past few years, Florentino would often listen to those close to him, board members and inner circle, and discuss the appointment of Real Madrid coach with them.
But this time, after the team has gone through another difficult season, Florentino hopes to make the decision himself and select the person who can lead Real Madrid to the top again. Moreover, the good relationship between Mourinho and Florentino is undoubtedly a major advantage he has.
There are a lot of actions going on behind the scenes. One of the most powerful agents in football is Jorge Mendes, who is pushing this matter forward. He has fully informed Real Madrid about Mourinho's situation. This is not just a recent start. I said last week that the relevant communication has already started. The message Mendes conveyed to Real Madrid is extremely clear. Mourinho has an open attitude towards coaching Real Madrid and is willing to wait a little bit compared to Real Madrid.
Next, I want to talk to you about Benfica's situation and the terms of Mourinho's contract with Benfica. This is very important. Mourinho is indeed willing to wait for Real Madrid's decision, and he is full of enthusiasm for returning to the Bernabeu. However, it all ultimately depends on Florentino Perez.
Mourinho is not the only candidate for Real Madrid coach. Real Madrid is still considering at least three other coaches at this moment, forming a short list of candidates. But what is clear is that Mourinho is ready, and Real Madrid understands this. Next is the contract issue. Real Madrid also knows Mourinho's contract situation at Benfica.
When Mourinho signed with Benfica in September 2025, there was a termination clause in the contract that could be activated by both parties. Either Benfica or Mourinho can activate this clause. If a total termination fee of approximately 6 million euros (equivalent to a net amount of approximately 3.4 million euros) is paid, Mourinho can terminate the contract early.
Mourinho took over Benfica in the middle of September, when the club was facing a presidential election. In view of this, it was necessary to leave room for possible management changes and coaching needs, so this two-way termination clause was added.
At present, the election has ended. Benfica has clearly expressed to Mourinho its intention to continue to stay in office, and has already begun to discuss with him the signing goals for next season, player retention and other related plans. Benfica highly recognizes the changes brought about by Mourinho after coaching and hopes to continue to cooperate with him, and is even willing to remove this termination clause from the contract.
But this clause is still valid at the moment, and Mourinho is willing to wait for Real Madrid's final judgment before determining his future. It should be noted that this clause is not valid throughout the summer – as far as I understand, it is valid until the end of May.
In other words, if you plan to activate the termination clause, it must be reached before the end of May. If this period has passed, the two parties can still negotiate the termination of the contract through negotiations between the clubs, but there is no way to directly activate the fixed-amount termination clause.
So, now, Real Madrid has obtained Mourinho's definite approval, and is aware of his coachability status, as well as the details of the contract. Next, it depends on how Real Madrid makes the decision. This is undoubtedly bombshell news.
England fans are both hopeful and nervous every tournament.