Jose Mourinho one of two ‘finalists’ for Real Madrid job

Jose Mourinho one of two ‘finalists’ for Real Madrid job

On Tuesday news broke that Benfica manager Jose Mourinho was the preferred candidate to replace Real Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa this summer. The Portuguese coach is reportedly keen to return to the Santiago Bernabeu, and has a clause in his Benfica contract that would allow him to do so for just €3m. Currently he has a year left on his deal there.

For some time it has been expected that Los Blancos would move on from Arbeloa, and Mourinho is reportedly the preferred choice for President Florentino Perez. Sky Sport DE report that personal terms and contract length will not get in the way of any move, and if Real Madrid do offer him the job, the deal will happen. They say his agent Jorge Mendes has been contacted too.

Mourinho one of two finalists for Real Madrid job

According to El Chiringuito, Mourinho is one of two finalists for the job, the other being Jurgen Klopp. The former Liverpool manager has been heavily linked with Real Madrid since the exit of Xabi Alonso, but has distanced himself from the job, and Los Blancos will have to convince him to take it. If they do not do so, then Mourinho is in pole position to take the job.

Didier Deschamps still in the picture

They go on to say that the third manager in Real Madrid’s thinking is France coach Didier Deschamps, who has agreed to leave the French national team after the World Cup this summer. In recent weeks, L’Equipe (via MD) say that Deschamps camp have denied that he is a candidate for the job.