Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has identified Jose Mourinho as his preferred candidate to take over at the Bernabeu for the 2026/27 season, according to reports from Spanish outlets and corroboration by The Athletic. While the Madrid board is understood to favour Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager’s commitment to his current Red Bull role and potential interest in the German national team job has positioned Mourinho as the frontrunner. The 63-year-old Portuguese is currently managing Benfica under a contract that runs until June 2027, but he reportedly possesses a release clause valued at approximately €3 million (£2.6m) should a major European vacancy arise.
The Mourinho-Klopp dilemma in Madrid
The pursuit of a new permanent head coach follows a period of uncharacteristic instability in the Spanish capital. Xabi Alonso was dismissed in January 2026, and his successor, Alvaro Arbeloa, is expected to leave this summer following a second consecutive season without a major trophy. While Jurgen Klopp remains the consensus choice for his modern tactical approach, Miguel Serrano reports that the German's lack of a definitive response has led Perez to pivot toward Mourinho. Speaking on the matter, journalist Nacho Pena suggested that while the club would move for Klopp immediately if he signaled interest, Mourinho represents "the best option" for a squad requiring a disciplinarian shift. However, reported interest in Mourinho is not universal; journalist Gonzalo Alvarez told Cadena SER that the coach is viewed by some as a "ticking time bomb" whose arrival would likely cause immediate conflict with established first-team stars.
Contractual status and manager denials
Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, famously securing a record 100-point La Liga title to break Pep Guardiola’s domestic dominance. Despite the growing speculation in Spain, Mourinho has moved to distance himself from the rumours for now. Speaking on May 1, the Benfica coach told reporters: "No one from Real Madrid spoke with me, I can guarantee that. I have already spent too many years in football; we are already used to these things." This public denial coincides with reports from AS journalist Jose Felix Diaz, who claims Klopp has effectively been ruled out because he intends to stay away from club management in the immediate future. With Arbeloa’s tenure reaching its conclusion, the activation of Mourinho’s release clause in Lisbon remains a distinct possibility for a club desperate to end its two-year trophy drought.