Real Madrid will now have to pay €15m for Jose Mourinho’s signature – report | OneFootball

The possibility of Jose Mourinho returning to Real Madrid is becoming increasingly dramatic, with growing tension now spreading far beyond Madrid itself.

In Portugal, the situation surrounding Mourinho and Benfica has reached a breaking point after a key contractual deadline passed without Real Madrid finalising the operation.

Simply put, what initially looked like a relatively straightforward managerial move has now evolved into a more complicated and expensive situation, one that is creating uncertainty for multiple clubs at the same time.

More expensive operation for Real Madrid

For weeks, Mourinho’s future has dominated headlines, largely because his departure from Benfica is already viewed internally as almost inevitable.

Mourinho’s arrival is being delayed. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The major issue revolves around the release clause built into his contract, as until Tuesday, Real Madrid had the possibility of securing Mourinho’s exit for €7 million.

However, after failing to complete the move before the clause deadline expired, the financial situation has changed significantly.

From now on, according to AS, any operation involving Mourinho jumps to €15 million, effectively doubling the cost of bringing the Portuguese coach back to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite the complications, Mourinho himself is said to remain calm about the entire situation. 

It is said that the veteran manager still believes there is a very strong chance he will ultimately become Real Madrid manager again once the presidential elections are resolved.

Election delaying the decision

Benfica want clarity on Mourinho’s future. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

For now, the expectation is that if Florentino Perez remains in power, Mourinho’s arrival is still widely viewed as the preferred scenario. 

However, the emergence of presidential challenger Enrique Riquelme, who prefers Jurgen Klopp, has added unpredictability to the process.

At Benfica, on the other hand, they are becoming increasingly frustrated because they placed major parts of their sporting planning on hold while waiting for clarity regarding Mourinho’s future. 

Internally, there is urgency to resolve the situation quickly so the club can move forward with preparations for next season.