Alert, Benfica! Riquelme in Real Madrid election rattles Mourinho | OneFootball

José Mourinho’s future could undergo yet another twist in the coming days. At a time when the deadline to submit lists for the Real Madrid elections is running out, Enrique Riquelme’s possible candidacy could block the Benfica manager’s return to the Spanish capital club.

According to Record newspaper, the 37-year-old businessman, one of the leading figures in the renewable energy sector, stressed in recent days that he intends to run for the Real Madrid presidency, although he must submit his list by the end of today, Saturday, May 23, in order to enter the race.

Now, if his candidacy is approved, elections will then be scheduled for June 7. Although the election race may go ahead, the current Merengue board can continue making decisions regarding transfers in and out, however, more central decisions, such as the head coach, are put on hold, which could delay Mourinho’s return, Florentino Pérez’s preferred choice.

However, the problems do not end there. If Riquelme manages to enter the electoral race and later wins the confidence of the Madrid club members, José Mourinho’s future will not lie with the Spanish giants. The businessman has already stated on several occasions that the Benfica coach is not in his plans and that his chosen candidate is Jürgen Klopp.

On the other hand, the Real Madrid elections could put Mourinho’s release clause at risk. In other words, until May 26, the Merengues will have to pay Benfica 7 million euros to take the Special One. If the deadline expires, Florentino Pérez, if he is the winner, will have to negotiate directly with Rui Costa over the Portuguese manager’s departure, as he is under contract until the summer of 2027.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.