Real Madrid launch Mourinho return plan to end the crisis | OneFootball

Real Madrid launch Mourinho return plan to end the crisis | OneFootball

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·8 May 2026

Real Madrid launch Mourinho return plan to end the crisis

Article image:Real Madrid launch Mourinho return plan to end the crisis

The Spanish leadership contacted 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 deepened an internal crisis within a squad that seems to have lost its way. And after handing down a historic sanction against both players, the club’s leadership has now turned its attention to the bench.


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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 specialist journalist Fabrizio Romano, the board has already begun direct contact with the Portuguese coach in an operation driven by Florentino Pérez himself.

How interest in Mourinho is progressing

Real Madrid have started the José Mourinho operation with direct contacts that are now taking place,” Romano said, also explaining that Benfica, the Portuguese’s current club, are aware of the talks but want to keep the coach. “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 possible agreement official could speed up as soon as this weekend. Madrid visit Barcelona at Camp Nou on Sunday, and a negative result would crown their eternal rivals LaLiga champions. In any case, the club’s leadership expects to finalize the departure of the current coaching staff once they formally say goodbye to their title hopes.

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

The Portuguese already managed 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 been mentioned,

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

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