Benfica Set €6m Release Fee as José Mourinho’s Real Madrid Return Edges Closer

José Mourinho’s anticipated return to Real Madrid is moving into its final stages, with Benfica understood to have placed a concrete financial value on the Portuguese manager’s release and set a firm departure timeline.

According to Now Sport Turkey journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, Real Madrid would be required to pay €6 million in compensation to Benfica should the two clubs finalise an agreement for Mourinho’s reappointment at the Santiago Bernabéu. The figure is considered relatively modest for a deal of this magnitude and is widely regarded as the last significant obstacle standing between Mourinho and a return to the Spanish capital.

Despite Real Madrid’s reported eagerness to begin restructuring their squad and backroom staff following a difficult domestic season, Benfica are holding firm on the question of timing. The Lisbon club insist that Mourinho fulfil his current obligations and remain in the dugout through the end of their 2025/26 season. His final scheduled match in charge of Benfica is a Primeira Liga fixture against Estoril Praia on May 16, which means he would not be officially available to take up a new role until May 17 at the earliest.

The date carries practical significance for Real Madrid as well. Los Blancos still have three matches remaining in the La Liga campaign, and the club’s board is expected to hold off on any formal coaching appointment until their own domestic schedule has concluded. The convergence of these two timelines makes mid-May the likely window for any official announcement.

Mourinho is reportedly already in direct communication with Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, a development that points to advanced behind-the-scenes discussions. He would be stepping into a dressing room currently managed by Álvaro Arbeloa, who took interim charge following a turbulent period for the club.

For Mourinho, a return to the Bernabéu would represent a significant chapter in his managerial career. He previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning a La Liga title in the 2011/12 season — a campaign in which the club recorded a then-record 100 points. His tenure was not without controversy, marked by a fractious relationship with elements of the squad and recurring tensions with Barcelona and their coaching staff.

Since leaving Real Madrid, Mourinho has managed Chelsea (twice), Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma, and Fenerbahçe before taking charge of Benfica. His appointment at the Lisbon club raised eyebrows given his historical association with rivals Sporting CP early in his career, but he accepted the role as part of a broader project to return Benfica to European relevance.

If the move is completed, Mourinho would inherit a Real Madrid side that has underperformed against expectations this season despite a squad that includes high-profile additions. The club’s leadership is understood to be seeking experienced, authoritative management to stabilise the group ahead of next season’s Champions League campaign.