Real Madrid could be heading towards another dramatic managerial decision, with club president Florentino Perez reportedly pushing for Jose Mourinho to return to the Santiago Bernabeu despite hesitation from sections of the board.
According to reports, Perez sees Mourinho as his preferred candidate to take charge of Real Madrid next season, as the club prepares for what could be another trophyless campaign. The situation has intensified following a difficult year in which Madrid are set to miss out on LaLiga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey for a second successive season.
🚨 Jose Mourinho preferred candidate of Florentino Perez to become next Real Madrid head coach. Support not universal inside #RMFC but president driving process so 63yo strong contender. ~€3m break clause in Benfica deal. W/ @MarioCortegana @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/7FqeSOBh68
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) April 28, 2026
Alvaro Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso in January, is expected to leave his role in June. His short spell has not delivered the response Madrid had hoped for, and Perez is now believed to be personally leading the search for the next coach.
Mourinho’s name carries obvious weight at the Bernabeu. The Portuguese coach previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning three trophies, including the 2011/12 LaLiga title with a record 100 points. Perez is said to view him as a figure capable of restoring discipline, competitiveness and authority to a squad that has fallen short in key moments.
However, the idea of bringing back the “Special One” has not convinced everyone inside the club. Some senior figures are reportedly wary of the divisions Mourinho left behind during his first spell, particularly the strained dressing room atmosphere and his public tensions with former captain Iker Casillas.
Other names are also being considered. Jürgen Klopp is believed to have support among parts of the club’s technical structure, although his preference for long-term project building may not fit Madrid’s immediate demands. Mauricio Pochettino and Lionel Scaloni have also been mentioned, while Didier Deschamps could become available after the World Cup, though his chances currently appear limited.
Mourinho is currently under contract with Benfica until June 2027, but his deal reportedly includes a release clause of around €3 million, which could make a return to Madrid relatively straightforward if Perez decides to push ahead.
There is also a delicate issue involving Vinicius Junior. Mourinho was criticised earlier this season after Benfica’s Champions League match against Real Madrid, when Vinicius claimed he had been insulted by Gianluca Prestianni. Mourinho suggested after the match that the Brazilian had provoked the incident, comments that reportedly went down badly in Madrid. Prestianni was later suspended by UEFA for homophobic insults.
For Perez, Mourinho represents a proven winner and a familiar figure. For others inside Real Madrid, he represents risk, conflict and a return to old wounds. The coming weeks could therefore produce a serious internal battle over the direction of the club.
What is clear is that Real Madrid are preparing for change. Whether that change leads back to Mourinho may depend not only on Perez’s authority, but on whether the club is willing to reopen one of the most controversial chapters in its modern history.
