Mourinho’s exit clause at Benfica has a deadline amid Real Madrid return talk – report | OneFootball

With Alvaro Arbeloa’s fate pretty much sealed at Real Madrid, the club are already working on securing a replacement to take over as manager in the summer.

And, former boss Jose Mourinho, currently in charge of SL Benfica, has emerged as a strong candidate to return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Indeed, reports suggest that the Portuguese tactician is keen on a return, with his agent, Jorge Mendes, already offering him to the Merengues.

Furthermore, it has been claimed that there is a clause in his contract at Benfica, which would allow him to leave for free.

Deadline for the clause

Building on that, AS now reports that the clause allowing Mourinho to leave Benfica at no cost expires ten days after the Lisbon club play their final match of the season, scheduled for 16 or 17 May.

Therefore, Mourinho could join another club without a transfer fee before June begins. Even if Real Madrid decided to sign him later, the cost of the operation would be merely symbolic.

Will Jose return to RealMadrid? (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

For now, Mourinho is already preparing for the next season in Lisbon, but a call from Real Madrid would change everything.

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe fueled speculations further by liking a social media post linking the ‘Special One’ with the a return to the club.

Mourinho remains a popular figure at the Santiago Bernabeu and has a good relationship with Florentino Perez. However, his reaction to the incident involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Jr., has complicated perceptions of him.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss, however, is currently focused on his work at Benfica and is somewhat annoyed that his name continues to be linked with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu without any official negotiations.

However, he is understood to be open to the move and a call from Real Madrid would change everything.