Jose Mourinho says his future will be decided this week amid reports he could return to Real Madrid, but has no offer from the Spanish club
By Ben Morse
Published 17/05/2026 at 13:28 GMT+1
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Jose Mourinho said on Saturday that his future will be decided this week, with reports circulating that he is the frontrunner for the Real Madrid manager's job.
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Mourinho led Benfica to third in the Portuguese league this season, finishing unbeaten across the 34 games but finishing eight points behind champions FC Porto.
Their third-place finish means Benfica will enter the second qualifying round for next season's UEFA Europa League.
However, it has been widely reported that the 63-year-old will return to the Bernabeu this summer, 13 years after his first spell with Madrid ended, as club president Florentino Perez seeks to end two straight years without a major trophy.
And speaking to reporters on Saturday following Benfica's 3-1 victory over Estoril Praia on the final day of the season, Mourinho explained that he expects to know where he will be managing in the coming days.
"My future should be decided this week," Mourinho said. "I have a proposal from Benfica. I don't have a proposal from Real Madrid.
"At the same time, I was saying that to hide that there is nothing, we cannot do that, there is something, but not with me directly.
"I need time, I need space, I need time to make my decision and this week I think is going to be very important."
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Mourinho joined Benfica last September, replacing the sacked Bruno Lage, on a two-year deal which runs until June 2027.
In his first season with the club, Benfica finished with a record of 23 wins, 11 draws and no defeats but ended eight points behind champions Porto and two behind Lisbon rivals, Sporting CP.
But according to reports, Mourinho is Perez's favourite to take the job at Real Madrid and restore some order to a team in flux.
Mourinho won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup during his time in charge of Madrid from 2010-13.
The team's current manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, spoke glowingly of Mourinho amid reports that he could be replaced by the Portuguese come the end of the season.
"Regarding Jose, I’ve always been very clear about how I feel," Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso as manager earlier this year, told reporters.
"For me, both as his former player and especially as a Madridista, he is world class, he’s No. 1.
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"A colleague of yours asked me a few days ago if I still felt the same way before we faced him in the Champions League, and I do. Jose has been, is, and always will be 'uno di noi' [one of us].
"If he happens to be the one taking over here next season, I will be absolutely delighted to welcome him back home."
A possible return to Madrid has not pleased all former Real players, with legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas saying he does not "want him" to come back to the Spanish capital.
"I have no problem with Mourinho," Casillas wrote on X. "I think he's a great professional. I just don't want him at Real Madrid.
"I believe other coaches would be better suited to manage the club I love. That's just my personal opinion. Nothing more."
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