TL;DR
José Mourinho's potential return to Real Madrid is gaining momentum as he nears the end of his contract with Benfica. Conversations have taken place, and he could be welcomed back as the club's manager after the current season ends.
The last time JosĂ© Mourinho was at the Santiago BernabĂ©u, he parked up in the bus. That night in late February the Benfica manager was suspended, a red card from the first leg of the Champions League playoff meaning he wasnât allowed on the touchline he had prowled 13 years and a lifetime ago, so Real Madrid prepared a media booth for him to watch from. Situated on the eighth floor, Spanish radio to the left of him, Portuguese to the right, Cabin No 6 had been supplied with nuts, fruit, salad and jamĂłn sandwiches. As kick-off approached, a crowd gathered by the door. But if the camera phones were out, he wasnât.
Mourinho never showed. Instead, he stayed in the basement 10 floors below, watching from an iPad on board the bus and leaving the post-match press conference to his assistant, JoĂŁo TralhĂŁo. The next time he comes, which could be as soon as this season ends, it is likely to be different, poised to be welcomed back as a saviour and their manager now, not hidden away. For a while his has been the only candidateâs name that has remained constant and never dismissed from within, seeming more real with every day.
On Friday Mourinho said he had the offer of a contract extension from Benfica but claimed he had not looked at it and would not do so until after Benficaâs final game on Sunday. Madridâs season finishes seven days later and, although no one admits it, there has been an approach from there too, conversations. A clause in Mourinhoâs contract means he can leave Benfica during the 10 days after the season ends. Florentino PĂ©rezâs unexpected call for elections could yet bring a surprise, but he will probably be returned to the presidency unopposed on 24 May, the day Madridâs season finishes, which all fits rather nicely.
So it is set, what seemed impossible probable now. Some things change fast and change back again faster. And yet many have waited a very, very long time for this.
Before the Benfica tie, Mourinho said he had not set foot in the BernabĂ©u since departing in May 2013 and there had been excitement, a touch of nostalgia too. With the passage of time, the bad moments had faded, just the aura left. Ălvaro Arbeloa referred to him as âuno de noiâ, one of us, and he referred to Arbeloa as one of his âkidsâ. As ever, he spoke warmly of PĂ©rez. âI gave everything to Madrid,â the Portuguese coach said. âMy feeling over these years is that Madrid fans feel what I do: respect and affection. But thereâs nothing doing with Madrid. Iâd like Arbeloa to win the league and stay for many years.â
The idea that one day Mourinho might return had hung in the air, if not really as a serious possibility. âI donât want to feed stories that donât exist,â Mourinho said before the first leg. His criticism of VinĂcius JĂșniorâs goal celebration after it, when the Brazilian alleged he had been subject to abuse, made a return even less likely, the context changing. âWe canât project the victim as a provoker,â Arbeloa said. âIn the end, Mourinho is Mourinho,â Thibaut Courtois added. âThe only thing that disappoints me a bit is him using Viniâs celebration.â PĂ©rez too had been disappointed.