IIt’s been 13 years since Mourinho left Real Madrid, and despite his contract with Benfica remaining until June 2027 and the current roster not including any players from Mou’s first era, rumors of a return to the Bernabé have excited fans.
In his comments ahead of the game against Sporting CP, the Portuguese coach was again in the spotlight after claiming he could not “guarantee” him to continue at Benfica.
Mourinho questions his future
At a press conference ahead of Benfica’s next match, the 63-year-old manager was asked about his future with the team, as there have been several rumors with Real Madrid and other Premier League clubs.
However, Mourinho’s reaction not only reflected his character, but also focused on the uncertainty surrounding him.
“Can you guarantee that you will still be at Benfica next season? That’s what we talked about two months ago, a few weeks ago and a few days ago. We can’t guarantee what will happen,” Mourinho said. “Can you guarantee that you’ll still be in the job?”
“I can do that because no one needs me,” the RTP journalist replied, eliciting laughter from those in attendance, including Mourinho himself.
Meanwhile, beyond the jokes and the metaphors, the truth is that Rubalo Arbeloa has been the main target of criticism since last Wednesday, April 15, following Real Madrid’s exit from the Champions League to Bayern Munich. As a result, there may be a vacancy in the coaching position. And Mourinho’s name comes up frequently.
Mourinho coached Real Madrid for three seasons (2010-2013), during which time they won the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, as well as reaching the Champions League semi-finals three times. Despite failing to win the title for the second season in a row (La Liga, in second place and nine points behind Barcelona, are the only teams remaining in the race), they can still put their faith in the Portuguese coach just as they did more than a decade ago.
However, Madrid are not the only possible destination, nor are they the only team interested. English clubs are also monitoring his situation closely, with Premier League sides eyeing the possibility of signing him, including Newcastle United, who are considering changes to their coaching staff following a shaky season.
Benfica, on the other hand, go into the match against Sporting undefeated in the domestic league and are in third place with 69 points, one game behind Sporting (second place with 71 points). The derby in the capital could be decisive towards the end of the season as Porto lead with 76 points before then.
Meanwhile, only time will tell whether Mourinho will return to Real Madrid.
