It has been 13 years since Mourinho left Real Madrid, and despite the fact that he has a contract with Benfica through June 2027 and that the current roster doesn’t include a single player from that first era under Mou, rumors surrounding his return to the Bernabéu have excited the fans.
In comments ahead of the match against Sporting CP, the Portuguese coach once again took center stage after failing to “guarantee” his continued tenure at Benfica.
Mourinho Casts Doubt on His Future
During the press conference ahead of Benfica’s next match, the 63-year-old coach was asked about his future with the team, as several rumors link him to Real Madrid and other Premier League clubs.
However, Mourinho’s response not only reflected his personality but also focused on the uncertainty surrounding him:
“Can I guarantee that I’ll be at Benfica next season? That’s something I talked about two months ago, weeks ago, and a few days ago. I can’t guarantee what will happen,” Mourinho replied, then challenged: “Can you guarantee you’ll still be in your job?“
“I can, because nobody wants me,” replied the RTP journalist, drawing laughter from those present-including Mourinho himself.
Meanwhile, beyond the jokes and Mou’s analogy, the truth is that following Real Madrid’s elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich last Wednesday, April 15, Álvaro Arbeloa has been the main target of criticism. As a result, the coaching position could become vacant and available. And Mourinho’s name is being mentioned frequently.
Mourinho managed Real Madrid for three seasons (2010-2013), during which he won a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup, in addition to reaching the Champions League semifinals three times. After two consecutive seasons without titles (they remain in contention only in LaLiga, where they are in 2nd place, 9 points behind Barcelona), they could place their trust in the Portuguese coach as they did more than a decade ago.
But Madrid is not the only possible destination nor the only interested team. Clubs in England are also closely monitoring his situation, with Premier League teams keeping an eye on the possibility of signing him-among them Newcastle United, which is considering changes to its coaching staff following an inconsistent season.
Meanwhile, Benfica heads into the match against Sporting undefeated in the domestic league and sitting in 3rd place with 69 points and one game in hand over Sporting (second with 71). Ahead of them, Porto leads with 76 points, so the capital derby could prove decisive heading into the final stretch of the season.
Meanwhile, only time will tell if Mourinho returns to Real Madrid.
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