Real Madrid launch Mourinho return bid to escape crisis | OneFootball

The Spanish leadership got in touch with Benfica’s current coach, looking to replace Arbeloa once the season ends.

The atmosphere at Real Madrid is going through one of its most delicate moments in recent years. The scandal between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni only worsened an internal crisis within a squad that seems to have lost its way. And after handing down a historic sanction against both players, the board has now turned its attention to the bench.

All signs point to Álvaro Arbeloa’s spell having an expiration date, and he will not continue as coach next season. In that context, a major name from the club’s recent history has emerged as his successor: José Mourinho. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the board has already begun direct contact with the Portuguese manager in an operation driven by Florentino Pérez himself.

How interest in Mourinho is progressing

“Real Madrid have started Operation José Mourinho, with direct contacts now taking place,” Romano said, also explaining that Benfica, the Portuguese coach’s current club, is aware of the talks but wants to keep him. “It depends on Madrid. It depends on Florentino Pérez: he will decide whether Mourinho returns or not,” the Italian journalist added.

The timeline for making a potential agreement official could speed up as soon as this weekend. Madrid visit Barcelona on Sunday at Camp Nou, and a negative result would crown their eternal rivals LaLiga champions. Even so, the board expects to finalize the departure of the current coaching staff once they formally say goodbye to their title hopes.

For now, inside the Casa Blanca they believe the current situation requires a coach with experience, a strong personality, and the ability to control a shaken dressing room. That is where Mourinho’s name has gained momentum.

The Portuguese manager already coached Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, a period in which he won three titles, stood up to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, and built a very close relationship with the club’s president. And although in recent days names such as Mauricio Pochettino, Didier Deschamps, and Lionel Scaloni have also surfaced in rumors,

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