Sofia Quijada
Mourinho Emerges as Florentino Perez’s Top Choice for Real Madrid Manager Role
Jose Mourinho has become Real Madrid president Florentino Perez’s preferred candidate to become the club’s next head coach, according to reporting from The Athletic. The 63-year-old Portuguese manager currently holds a contract with Benfica that includes a cancellation clause worth approximately three million euros, allowing either party to trigger an exit within ten days after the final official game of the season.
Arbeloa, appointed in January as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, faces dismissal in June following a season where Real Madrid will finish without the LaLiga title, Champions League, or Copa del Rey for a second consecutive year. Perez has personally assumed control of the managerial selection process, departing from the approach used for previous appointments.
The president views Mourinho as the sole figure capable of restoring competitive edge to the Bernabeu after a collapse in performance. A return would reunite the coach with Perez, a partnership that yielded three trophies between 2010 and 2013, including LaLiga in 2011/12 with a record 100 points.
Internal Resistance and Alternative Candidates
Despite Perez’s backing, consensus around Mourinho does not exist within the club’s structure. The coaching staff favours Jurgen Klopp, though concerns about his prolonged project-building methods and difficulty managing strong personalities present complications. Mauricio Pochettino, open to a Madrid move, and Lionel Scaloni, the current Argentina coach who has already received contact but deferred response until after the World Cup, remain on the target list. Didier Deschamps has also surfaced as a possibility following his planned departure from the French national team, though his realistic chances appear limited.
Several sources close to Real Madrid express opposition to Mourinho’s return, citing historical divisions created within the dressing room during his previous tenure. The tension he generated with then-captain Iker Casillas remains a point of concern among club insiders.
José Mourinho speaking to Vinicius Jr. Source: DAZN
The Vinicius Junior Controversy
Mourinho’s current spell at Benfica carries its own complications. In February, the manager drew sharp criticism following the Champions League fixture between Benfica and Real Madrid in Lisbon. Vinicius Junior reported racist insults from Gianluca Prestianni during the match, yet Mourinho’s post-match comments suggested the Brazilian forward had provoked the incident—a characterization that was poorly received in Madrid. Prestianni received a six-match suspension from UEFA for homophobic insults rather than racism charges.
Follow TipsGG’s coverage as this managerial saga develops in the coming weeks.