José Mourinho is set to make a dramatic return to Real Madrid, drawing the curtain on his brief stint with Benfica to head back to the Spanish capital more than a decade after his first departure. Renowned transfer market specialist Fabrizio Romano has delivered his trademark “here we go” confirmation, signaling that a verbal agreement between the Portuguese manager and Los Blancos is completely finalized.
The formal contract signature and official announcement are expected early next week, immediately following Real Madrid’s final match of the season against Athletic Bilbao this upcoming Saturday.
🚨 BREAKING: José Mourinho back to Real Madrid, HERE WE GO! 💣🤍
All terms have been verbally agreed between José Mourinho and Real Madrid, waiting to sign all documents.
Plan for initial two year deal, JM to travel to Madrid after Real-Bilbao game.
The Special One is back. pic.twitter.com/K267WgiqjC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 18, 2026
The iconic tactician is poised to sign a two-year contract with the club presided over by Florentino Pérez, solidifying a spectacular return to the Santiago Bernabéu. Mourinho’s transition out of Lisbon will be relatively seamless, as his €3 million release clause with Benfica is not expected to present any financial or logistical hurdle for the Spanish giants.
The move comes as a major blow to Benfica’s leadership, who had publicly expressed a strong desire to extend their relationship with the manager after he guided the Eagles through a remarkably resilient campaign.
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Speculation reached a tipping point over the weekend following Benfica’s victory against Estoril. In his post-match comments, Mourinho openly acknowledged that direct contact had been established with Real Madrid regarding a potential comeback.
While he stopped short of confirming his departure at that exact moment, he indicated that a definitive decision about the next phase of his career would be finalized during the week. This return marks a monumental shift for Real Madrid, who are looking to lean on Mourinho’s fierce competitive drive to lead a squad overhaul ahead of the 2026/27 season.
