Mourinho dodged Benfica, but wants to join Benfica fans at Marquês | OneFootball

José Mourinho left Lisbon this afternoon bound for Madrid, where he will begin a new chapter in his career by taking charge of Real Madrid. Before boarding, the Portuguese coach spoke to journalists at the airport and left a message for Benfica fans.

"A message for Benfica fans? Let them go to Marquês and I’ll go with them", Mourinho said. After completing his second spell at Benfica, the coach is preparing to return to the Santiago Bernabéu, a club he already managed between 2010 and 2013, where he won La Liga in the 2011/12 season, the Copa del Rey in 2010/11, and the Spanish Super Cup in 2012/13.

In the 2025/26 season, Mourinho led the Eagles in 45 official matches, recording 27 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats, numbers that amount to a 67.4% success rate. Although he did not win any trophies, the season was also marked by the coach’s repeated criticism of Portuguese refereeing.

With his spell at Benfica now over, Mourinho accepted Florentino Pérez’s invitation and will once again take charge of Los Blancos to begin a new cycle at the Spanish club. At Real Madrid, José Mourinho will work with Bernardo Silva, one of the signings secured by the Spanish champions for the new season.

The Portuguese international had been linked with several destinations during the transfer window, including Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and even a possible return to Benfica. However, he ultimately chose Real Madrid’s project, where he will cross paths with José Mourinho once again.

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