RismadarVoice Reporters
June 4, 2026
Portuguese club, Benfica have stated that Real Madrid will be required to pay a €15 million release clause if they wish to appoint manager José Mourinho, amid growing reports linking the coach with a return to the Spanish giants.
The clarification comes as Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez intensifies efforts to bring Mourinho back to the Santiago Bernabéu, 13 years after the Portuguese coach left the club in 2013.
According to a statement from Benfica on Thursday, Pérez had formally communicated Real Madrid’s “firm intention” to hire Mourinho but was reminded that the manager remains under contract with a release clause valued at €15 million (about $17.4 million).
This figure contradicts earlier media reports suggesting that Mourinho could be available for as little as €3 million.
Mourinho, who rejoined Benfica in September 2025, has enjoyed a strong spell at the club, guiding them through an unbeaten league campaign, although they eventually finished third in the standings. He still has one year remaining on his current contract.
The Portuguese tactician has already appeared in a promotional video on Pérez’s social media account, indicating his openness to a potential return to Real Madrid.
Mourinho previously managed the Spanish side between 2010 and 2013, during which he won the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
Reports suggest Pérez views Mourinho as a potential solution to recent instability at the club, following back-to-back seasons without major silverware and concerns over dressing room discipline.
However, the proposed move is seen as a calculated gamble, given Mourinho’s polarising managerial style and the expectations at the Bernabéu.
