'Operation Mourinho' underway as Real Madrid move to replace struggling Alvaro Arbeloa | OneFootball

Legendary coach in line for second spell with crisis-stricken Los Blancos but Benfica desperate to keep 63-year-old in Portugal

Real Madrid are in talks with Jose Mourinho’s representatives over a spectacular move to bring the Portuguese back to the Spanish capital.

Los Blancos are rather in crisis as they stare down the barrel of a trophyless season. Alvaro Arbeloa, promoted from Real’s B-team to replace Xabi Alonso earlier this season, has lost the dressing room entirely, with widespread reports claiming he has fallen out with several members of the squad.

Real have also confirmed a falling out between Aurelien Tchouameni, which resulted in a physical altercation and both players being slapped with a €500,000 fine.

With the massive egos in Real’s squad starting to prove unmanageable, particularly for the inexperienced Arbeloa, the club are pushing ahead with a move to bring Mourinho back to the club and bring the situation under control.

Jose Mourinho’s Benfica are on track for an invincible league season

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Per reports in The Athletic, Mourinho himself is happy in his present role with Benfica, but has the contractual option to call time on his spell with the club this summer and is open to returning to the Bernabeu. His deal contains a release clause of around €3million (£2.6m).

Benfica, however, want Mourinho to stay ‘at all costs’, according to further reporting from Fabrizio Romano.

Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp are among the other contenders for the role should Mourinho choose to remain in his native Portugal.

Now 63, Mourinho took charge of Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, clinching one La Liga title in that time.

He took charge of Benfica in September after being sacked by Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce.

His Eagles are on track for an invincible league campaign despite still sitting second in the table, but were dumped out of the Champions League in the league phase.