Benfica confirm €15m Jose Mourinho switch to Real Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid will have Jose Mourinho as their new manager, barring a shock U-turn. The Portuguese manager is set to return to the Santiago Bernabeu 13 years after leaving the club, as he again seeks to intervene against a Barcelona that is coming off successive title wins.

For some time, Mourinho has been slated to take over from Alvaro Arbeloa, when it was first reported in late April that President Florentino Perez was pushing for his return. The matter has been delayed by Perez’s decision to call elections, but Perez has continued to make moves despite being midway through elections. On Wednesday night, his campaign channel confirmed Mourinho would be his new manager.

Benfica confirm Real Madrid will pay Mourinho release clause

Image via Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Had Perez decided to move for Mourinho before the 26th of May, he could have signed him for just €3m, yet his release clause has risen since to €15m. As Benfica are on the stock market, they are forced to declare their moves publicly, and have thus announced that Real Madrid have activated Mourinho’s clause. He is to join Los Blancos on a three-year deal.

What happens if Enrique Riquelme wins the elections?

It is expected that Perez will emerge victorious in the elections on Sunday, after which Mourinho will be appointed as the new manager. Yet presidential rival Enrique Riquelme has declared that he is not in favour of having Mourinho as manager, and has another option lined up. It has not been revealed whether that is the case, but it would be no surprise if Mourinho’s contract included a get-out clause in case Perez loses the elections. Were that not to be the case, it would certainly be an uncomfortable situation for both, and difficult to redirect.