Mourinho plays down Real Madrid return speculation

Mourinho plays down Real Madrid return speculation

Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho on Monday dismissed speculation linking him with a return to Real Madrid, insisting his focus remains on Benfica.

Mourinho’s Benfica host Real Madrid in a UEFA Champions League play-off first leg on Tuesday, with the return fixture scheduled for next week at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

The 63-year-old, who managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, has a clause in his Benfica contract allowing either party to terminate the agreement. The provision has fuelled rumours that Madrid president Florentino Perez could consider him for a return next season.

Mourinho guided Benfica to a 4-2 victory over Madrid in the league phase of the Champions League in January, setting up the two sides’ latest meeting in the knockout play-off round.

When asked whether he could reject an approach from Perez, Mourinho replied, “Can you say no? Yes. Yes, you can.”

He acknowledged his “great friendship” with Perez and a lasting bond with Madrid, but clarified that the break clause was included due to Benfica’s presidential elections scheduled for November 2025, shortly after he signed his contract.

“I gave everything to Real Madrid, everything that I had. I did good things, I did bad things, but I gave absolutely everything, and that’s all,” Mourinho said.

“When someone leaves a club with those types of feelings, I think a connection always exists… the fans think highly of me, and that is fantastic, but with this, I don’t want to encourage stories that don’t exist.

“The only thing that exists is that I have another year on my contract with Benfica. It’s a special contract because it was signed in an electoral period.”

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