Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa has played down the significance of Kylian Mbappé liking an Instagram post that linked José Mourinho to a managerial return to the Santiago Bernabéu, offering a blunt response when questioned by the media.
“I don’t care about likes. He can like a post about Mourinho, Julia Roberts or whoever!” Arbeloa said, dismissing any suggestion that the French forward’s online activity carried deeper meaning.
The remarks come at a particularly difficult moment for Arbeloa, who is widely expected to leave Real Madrid when the current campaign concludes. Los Blancos were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals and currently sit behind Barcelona in the La Liga standings — a combination of results that points toward a second consecutive trophyless season for the club.
Mbappé’s social media activity has added fuel to existing reports in the Spanish press linking Mourinho with a return to Madrid, where he previously served as manager between 2010 and 2013. During that spell, the Portuguese tactician guided the club to the 2011/12 La Liga title and the 2010/11 Copa del Rey — his most notable honours during his time in the Spanish capital.
Despite the speculation, extracting Mourinho from his current position in Portugal presents a significant challenge. The 63-year-old recently reaffirmed his commitment to Benfica, stating that his “desire to stay at Benfica does not depend on the investment in the team” and that he intends to remain at the club next season, provided the hierarchy supports his continuation, according to Pulse Sports.
Mourinho’s return to club management with Benfica marked a notable chapter in his career following spells at AS Roma, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United. His history with Real Madrid remains one of the more decorated — if turbulent — chapters of his managerial career, and his name continues to be associated with the club whenever a coaching change appears imminent.
With the La Liga title appearing increasingly out of reach and European ambitions already extinguished for the season, Real Madrid’s hierarchy faces key decisions in the coming weeks regarding the club’s managerial direction heading into the 2026/27 campaign.
