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A deal to appoint José Mourinho as Real Madrid's next manager is reportedly in its closing stages, with the Portuguese tactician expected to sign on the dotted line next week.
Once it became apparent that Álvaro Arbeloa was unable to guide Los Blancos to silverware in 2025–26, a managerial change was always on the cards for this summer. Jürgen Klopp, Didier Deschamps and Mauricio Pochettino were all mentioned as potential candidates, but Mourinho surprisingly emerged as the leading contender for the role.
Now, The Athletic reports that Mourinho is set to sit down with club president Florentino Pérez in the coming days to finalize the remaining details of his return to the Bernabéu. The manager has even informed several figures at Benfica that he is on his way out.
The meeting aligns with the reported €3 million ($3.5 million) release clause in Mourinho's current contract, which can be activated within 10 days of the final match of the 2025–26 season — a game that falls this Saturday, when Benfica face Estoril.
Mourinho Comments on Mbappé, Arbeloa Feud
Mourinho is clearly treading carefully in what are likely his final days at Benfica. "The Special One" still has to oversee his side's last match of the campaign while simultaneously fielding questions about Real Madrid.
At his pre-match press conference on Friday, Mourinho was asked about the latest controversy brewing at the Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappé publicly criticized Arbeloa following the team's 2–0 victory over Real Oviedo on Thursday, claiming the Spanish manager considers him his "fourth-choice striker."
The French international insisted to reporters that he was fully fit to start the match, yet he was only introduced from the bench for a 21-minute appearance. Mbappé made no secret of his preference for Xabi Alonso's tenure, deepening the divisions within an already troubled dressing room — one that Mourinho will be tasked with rebuilding next season.
"It makes me sad because Arbeloa is a friend," Mourinho said when asked about the situation. "He is one of those who gave soul and life when he was a player of mine. Now that he is the Real Madrid manager, our bond is even stronger, just as my connection to the club is.
"I want things to go well for him. Being a player is always easier than being the manager. But he won the game yesterday and I'm sure he is in good spirits today."
Arbeloa Finally Addresses Mourinho's Impending Arrival
Mbappé's public criticism could not have come at a more difficult moment for Arbeloa, who is essentially waiting to be dismissed at the end of the season. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure when pressed with questions about the Frenchman and his anticipated successor.
"The day the club reaches a decision on next season's manager, they'll do so when they see fit," he said when asked whether Mourinho is the answer to the dressing room's turbulence.
"For me, as a player and a Real Madrid supporter, Mourinho is number one. I thought that a month ago, and I still believe it. He is and always will be one of us. If he's here next season, I'll be absolutely delighted to see him back home."
Even if Mourinho manages to reunite the dressing room, he still faces a challenge that Carlo Ancelotti, Alonso and Arbeloa all failed to meet: delivering a major trophy with Mbappé and Vinicius Junior spearheading the attack.