The smoke at Valdebebas has turned into a signal. Real Madrid has shifted its focus from “finding a solution” to “bringing back José Mourinho.” In what is being described as a definitive move by the club’s hierarchy, the current Benfica manager has become the only viable option to rebuild a squad that has lost its way.

What started as a whisper a month ago is now a full operation. Florentino Pérez is reportedly convinced that only Mourinho can restore order to a dressing room currently defined by infighting and tactical confusion.

The Current Situation: Direct Contacts Underway

According to recent reports from AS and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the “Mourinho Operation” has moved into its second phase:

  • Direct Communication: Real Madrid has established direct contact with Mourinho. While no contract is signed yet, both parties are fully aware of each other’s demands.
  • The Price of Freedom: Mourinho is currently under contract with Benfica until 2027. However, he has a release clause—reportedly between €3M and €3.5M—making his exit affordable for a club in crisis.
  • The Benfica Factor: President Rui Costa is desperately trying to keep Mourinho in Lisbon, even offering a contract extension, but internal sources at Benfica admit the coach is now “much closer to the Bernabéu” than the Estádio da Luz.

Mourinho’s “Total Control” Demands

Mourinho is not coming back just to be a “band-aid.” Sources suggest he held a video call with the Madrid hierarchy this week to lay out his terms:

  1. Selection Autonomy: No interference from the board regarding who starts or sits.
  2. Medical Overhaul: A direct line of communication and control over the medical staff following this season’s 120-injury disaster.
  3. Squad Trimming: Mourinho reportedly wants to remove up to seven players who he believes do not meet the standard of Madridismo.
  4. Short-Term Impact: He is reportedly seeking a two-year deal to ensure he has the time to complete a full rebuild.

Why Now? The “Locker Room War”

The urgency behind the Mourinho pursuit is driven by the total breakdown in discipline under Álvaro Arbeloa. Between the Valverde-Tchouaméni fight and reports of players openly mocking the coaching staff, the club believes a “hard-line” manager is the only way to save the project.

Mourinho’s history of demanding absolute loyalty and his “us against the world” mentality is exactly what Pérez believes the team needs to stop the dominance of Hansi Flick’s Barcelona.

RMxtra Verdict: The Third Return

We have seen Zidane return and win. We have seen Ancelotti return and win. Now, the stage is set for the most controversial comeback of all. Mourinho left Madrid in 2013 amidst a storm, but in 2026, he may be the only man with a big enough umbrella to shield the club from its own chaos.

If the Clásico on Sunday goes poorly, expect the Mourinho announcement to follow very quickly.