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Florentino Pérez has stated that he has yet to hold talks with José Mourinho and that multiple names remain on his shortlist for the Real Madrid managerial role.
Madrid must find a new manager ahead of the 2026–27 season following Álvaro Arbeloa's departure at the conclusion of the current campaign.
Mourinho, presently in charge at Benfica, had been widely anticipated to take the reins at the Bernabéu in the near future, with reports suggesting the 63-year-old had already reached an agreement to return to the club he managed between 2010 and 2013.
However, Pérez has now thrown doubt over the prospect of Mourinho making a second return to the club.
Pérez Still Considering Other Candidates for Real Madrid Job
Long regarded as the sitting president's preferred choice, Pérez has now maintained that he has had no communication with Mourinho, while indicating he still has "two" names in mind for the managerial vacancy.
During an interview with Spanish broadcaster RTVE, Pérez was asked directly whether he already knows who the next Real Madrid manager will be, to which he responded: "I'm thinking about it."
When pushed on whether he had a single name in mind, he replied evasively: "or two."
Pérez was then questioned about bookmakers' frontrunner Mourinho, saying: "Well, he's a great manager of course [but] we're not about to announce anything. I still haven't talked to Mourinho."
Before Mourinho emerged as the clear frontrunner to replace Arbeloa, names such as Jürgen Klopp, Didier Deschamps and Mauricio Pochettino had all been floated as potential candidates.
Mourinho Deal Gets Green Light
Despite Pérez keeping his cards close to his chest publicly, AS reports that Mourinho remains a certainty to take charge at Madrid provided the current president retains his position in the forthcoming elections.
The outlet claims that agent Jorge Mendes has now hammered out an agreement on the financial details of Mourinho's switch from Benfica—despite his contractual release clause having lapsed.
It is reported that the Mourinho deal has received the "definitive green light" and that he will be unveiled by Pérez shortly after the June 7 election.
Riquleme Makes Bold Manager Claim
The upcoming election adds further complexity to the process of appointing a new manager.
Pérez called a surprise ballot earlier this month, ahead of the scheduled timeline, and will face a challenge from green energy businessman Enrique Riquelme, with the club's 100,000-plus members set to cast their votes on Sunday, June 7.
No managerial appointment can be confirmed before the election concludes, and Riquelme has hinted that he may pursue a different managerial direction to Pérez should he emerge victorious.
In one campaign video, the 37-year-old Cox Energy CEO name-drops Klopp, while boldly claiming to have already secured agreements for a new manager as well as two first-team recruits.
"We finalized the coaching deal before announcing my candidacy," Riquelme has said, hinting that his preferred coach "is under contract with a team."