Real Madrid have been the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons of late. While the management looks to ensure dressing room harmony is restored, they are also working hard to identify their next permanent manager.
According to a report from The Athletic, Los Blancos are in talks with Jose Mourinho about a potential return to Santiago Bernabeu. He is believed to be Florentino Perez’s preferred candidate to replace Alvaro Arbeloa ahead of next season.
While the Spanish giants have quite a few top names on their wishlist, there are not many who can come close to the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss. He might not have won the Champions League during his first stint at Real Madrid, but the team did dominate in domestic competitions under him.
Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp, Massimiliano Allegri, and Didier Deschamps are all on their wishlist. But the Merengues have not made any moves to appoint any of them. However, they have already stepped up their efforts to bring Mourinho back to the Bernabeu.
The Spanish giants are in talks with his agent, Jorge Mendes. Mourinho seems keen on a return, and Perez is considering whether to go ahead with the move. There are no club-to-club negotiations with Benfica at this point, but there is a break clause in the region of €3 million, which could help Real Madrid appoint the 63-year-old. However, it must be triggered within 10 days of the end of this season’s end.
While Mourinho is ready to jump on the opportunity to return to Spain, he has made his demands known to Perez and co. Real Madrid’s general manager, Jose Angel Sanchez, who has been handling the talks with the Portuguese manager’s camp, has been informed that Mourinho wants full control and a significant say in transfers before he green-lights a return to Bernabeu, as per a report from Sky Sports.
While the Portuguese manager has an excellent relationship with Perez, it remains to be seen whether the Spanish club’s president is willing to meet his demands. The next few weeks could be decisive in the 63-year-old’s potential return to Madrid.
