Benfica Prepares for Mourinho Exit
The possible return of José Mourinho to Real Madrid is gaining more and more momentum, and in Portugal, they already assume that his continuity at Benfica is seriously in doubt. Inside the Portuguese club, they believe that “The Special One” is now much closer to the Santiago Bernabéu than to staying another season on the bench of the “Eagles.”
According to AS, Mourinho’s contract situation does not represent a major obstacle for Real Madrid. The Portuguese manager reportedly has an affordable release clause and, with a payment close to three million euros, could become completely free to negotiate his return to the Spanish giants.
Rui Costa Tries To Convince Mourinho
At Benfica, however, hope is not lost yet. Rui Costa, the club’s president and one of the main architects behind Mourinho’s arrival, has already held talks with the coach in an attempt to convince him to remain in charge of the project. The board has even reportedly placed a contract extension offer on the table, although there is still no definitive response from the Portuguese manager.
Concern within the Lisbon club is evident. Mourinho represents much more than just a coach: he is a media figure, a competitive leader, and one of the main sporting promises of the current administration. That is why Benfica understands that competing against the interest of Real Madrid is an extremely difficult battle.
Marco Silva Emerges as Main Replacement Candidate
Facing uncertainty, the club’s leadership is already working on possible scenarios. According to Portuguese outlet Record, Marco Silva is the leading candidate to replace Mourinho if the veteran coach ultimately decides to return to Spain.
Rui Costa wants to avoid the club entering preseason without clarity on the managerial situation, which is why he is pushing to resolve the matter as soon as possible. Even so, the outcome will largely depend on Real Madrid, a club that has not yet made a formal offer but maintains a close relationship with Mourinho through Jorge Mendes and Florentino Pérez.
Although there are other alternatives to manage the Spanish powerhouse, Mourinho’s name is once again gaining traction in Valdebebas. Once the season ends, official moves are expected to begin, and the future of the Madrid bench will start to take shape.
