Mourinho takes first step toward Real Madrid return; board sees him as sole option

Jose Mourinho has taken the first step toward a potential return to Real Madrid, with the club’s board now viewing him as the only viable option to rebuild the team and restore balance in a disorganized dressing room. A month and a half ago he was not in the plans, but his name has continued to circulate in Valdebebas, especially after Jorge Mendes offered him a place on the club’s board.

In that time, sentiment has shifted from “it’s impossible for Mourinho to return” to acceptance that the operation is now in motion. The first move came from the coach; the second, and apparently decisive one, from the Madrid board. No agreement has been reached.

Florentino Pérez and Mourinho are expected to reconnect to address the daily challenges of a team as complex as Real Madrid. Within the club, there is a firm conviction that the “Special One” is the ideal figure to take control of a dressing room seen as being out of hand.

There is no doubt expressed about his capacity to do so. Meanwhile, Benfica is reportedly working to find a replacement for Mourinho, with Amorim considered the leading candidate, according to AS. The initial price for the Portuguese has been set at €3 million—an affordable sum, particularly given Real Madrid’s need to resolve their current crisis.

The past decade has already brought successful returns for Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti. Now, barring any sudden change, a third round of negotiations is under way. Everything depends on a conversation between the coach and the president, and public sentiment toward Mourinho has shifted markedly.

The remaining question is how the return of the current Benfica coach would fit into the day-to-day demands of Real Madrid.