Benfica Beats Real Madrid to the Punch on Jose Mourinho. How Much Did Merengues Pay for Him?

The Portuguese club has disclosed details of the Special One's expected return to Real Madrid before Los Blancos have made it official.

While Real Madrid has yet to make it official, Benfica announced on Tuesday that Jose Mourinho has agreed to join Los Blancos after the Spanish giants offered to pay the €15 million ($17 million) release clause included in the Portuguese manager’s contract with the Lisbon club. Mourinho’s agent has reportedly been meeting with Real Madrid executives in the Spanish capital.

THE DETAILS

The confirmation came through a statement submitted to Portugal’s Securities Market Commission (CMVM).

"Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD informs that Real Madrid CF has formally expressed its intention to hire coach José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix by paying the €15 million release clause stipulated in his current employment contract, with the coach agreeing to the move," the club stated.

In a separate statement published on its website, Benfica highlighted Mourinho’s unbeaten run in charge of the team and wished him "the very best of luck" in the future.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes, met at Madrid’s Santo Mauro Hotel with Real Madrid CEO Jose Angel Sanchez and chief scout Juni Calafat to discuss plans for the first-team squad ahead of next season. It has not been confirmed whether Mourinho himself attended the meeting.

MOURINHO'S PRESENT

Mourinho, 63, signed a contract extension with Benfica through 2027 last September. The agreement included a clause allowing both parties a 10-day reflection period following the end of the season to decide whether they wished to continue together.

After that period expired, Mourinho and Benfica remained committed to the deal, meaning Real Madrid must now activate the manager’s release clause.

The Portuguese coach returned to his homeland to replace the dismissed Bruno Lage and finished the Liga Portugal season unbeaten, although Benfica ended the campaign in third place and without a trophy.

It marked Mourinho’s second spell at Benfica, the club where he began his senior managerial career in 2000. However, disagreements with the board at the time limited his first stint to just 11 matches.

Mourinho is now set to begin a second chapter at Real Madrid, having previously managed the club between 2010 and 2013. During that spell, he won one LaLiga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Spanish Super Cup.