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Kylian Mbappé appears to have thrown his support behind José Mourinho as a potential Real Madrid manager, after hitting 'like' on a social media post discussing the Portuguese tactician's possible appointment.
With Madrid staring down the prospect of a trophy-free season—their second consecutive campaign without any major silverware—a summer overhaul now seems unavoidable.
Álvaro Arbeloa, who was handed the managerial role in January on a deal of unspecified duration following the sacking of Xabi Alonso, is now widely expected to be relieved of his duties at the end of the season, with intense speculation swirling around who will inherit one of football's most demanding positions.
Former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, France World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps, and USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino have all been floated as names that Florentino Pérez is keen on, while the shadow of Zinedine Zidane continues to loom large.
There has been talk that the architect of Real Madrid's Champions League hat-trick could return for a third stint in the Bernabéu dugout. However, it appears more probable that Zidane is biding his time to succeed Deschamps as France's national team coach once his contract concludes after this summer's World Cup.
Another name that consistently appears on bookmakers' shortlists is Mourinho. The 63-year-old Benfica manager guided Madrid from 2010 to 2013—claiming one La Liga title and one Copa del Rey—and by all accounts retains a strong relationship with Pérez.
Mbappe 'Likes' Mourinho Option
It appears Pérez is not the only one who still holds Mourinho in high regard, if Mbappé's social media activity is anything to go by.
The Pichichi frontrunner was spotted liking a post from @Score90 on Instagram, which featured a mock-up image of Mourinho alongside Mbappé and Madrid teammate Arda Güler, while floating the idea that the Portuguese coach could elevate Mbappé's goal output just as he once did with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The post from the account boasting over three million followers reads: "José Mourinho is currently one of the top candidates to take charge of Real Madrid next season.
"Since his previous spell at the club, he has the second-highest win rate of any Real Madrid manager. Moreover, during his last stint, he took Cristiano Ronaldo's goalscoring from elite to superhuman. Could we see a similar transformation with Kylian Mbappé?
"What do you think? Is there any chance of a José Mourinho comeback at Real Madrid, and if so, would he be the right manager for the Spanish giants?"
Could Mourinho Make a Comeback?
Mbappé's like on the post did not escape the attention of fans and could be interpreted as a quiet endorsement of Mourinho's potential return to the club.
Mourinho, whose contract at Benfica runs through 2027, has admitted he cannot guarantee his presence at the club next season, amid ongoing speculation about his future. He has also been linked with a move to Newcastle United in recent months.
Portuguese outlet A Bola, meanwhile, reports that Mourinho has not received any formal offers from other clubs and remains entirely focused on Benfica, noting that the coach feels "uncomfortable" with all the conjecture surrounding his future.
Several other reports, however, suggest that Mourinho would eagerly seize the opportunity for another shot at the Bernabéu at this point in his career.
The Case Against 'The Special One'
There is clearly still a degree of nostalgia for Mourinho among certain factions at Madrid, and he remains a genuinely marquee name in management. Yet he is also a very different figure from the one who departed the Bernabéu 13 years ago.
His most recent league title came with Chelsea back in 2015, and—despite claiming the Conference League with Roma in 2022—he has not featured in the latter stages of the Champions League for a considerable time, with his last triumph in the competition dating back to 2010.
Many of his recent managerial stints have been clouded by controversy and a growing combativeness, marked by well-publicized clashes with players, club executives, and league officials. Once celebrated as one of football's great tactical minds, his brand of football in recent years has grown increasingly defensive and grinding.
Nevertheless, there were indications that Mourinho can still operate at the elite level during Benfica's encounters with Madrid in this season's Champions League.
The Lisbon side beat Madrid 4–2 in a thrilling final group stage clash in which goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin headed home in the 97th minute. Benfica were subsequently eliminated by Madrid in the knockout rounds in a fractious tie overshadowed by allegations of racism made by Gianluca Prestianni against Vinicius Junior. Mourinho's initial response to the incident did little to help his prospects of a return to Madrid.