The Benfica manager has been linked with a surprise return to the Bernabéu, having previously been mentioned as a potential replacement for Eddie Howe under pressure.
Jose Mourinho is said to be on Real Madrid’s shortlist this summer (Image: Getty Images)
Although a strange choice, Jose Mourinho’s return to a new managerial role at Real Madrid will have one positive impact. That would likely delay his return to the Premier League.
He’ll be back here before the job is done, don’t get me wrong about that. He will come back to undermine the officials and play some pretty ugly football.
Some club owner will love the publicity he has brought and will take one last hurray at a tournament he clearly has great affection for and which has been a great success. But that was a long time ago.
The game progressed, but there is little evidence that Mourinho moved accordingly. That’s why it’s hard to understand Florentino Perez’s desire to rehire Mourinho, other than personal admiration for the Portuguese manager’s character.
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That’s understandable. When he’s not picking fights, Mourinho is a very charming man.
However, they haven’t won anything for a while, and their last trophy was the UEFA Conference League against Roma in the 2021-22 season. This ended a five-year wait for the trophy. His last win was in the Europa League against Manchester United.
Mourinho last won the domestic league title 11 years ago. His team, Benfica, is currently undefeated in this season’s Primeira Liga, but they are seven points behind Porto with four games remaining.
Jose Mourinho says Vinicius Junior “did not celebrate with respect” after scoring against Real Madrid and Benfica (Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Mourinho has always been linked with big jobs. He has, among other things, a very good agent. But returning to Real Madrid after three years at the start of the last decade would still be a big gamble for Perez.
There is certainly one obvious problem. How will Vinicius Junior react to his appointment? Mourinho almost accused Vinicius Junior of inviting abuse by celebrating a goal during an awkward Champions League game in Lisbon.
“Unfortunately, he (Vinicius Junior) wasn’t just happy to score that amazing goal,” Mourinho said. “When you score a goal like that, you celebrate with respect.”
Eddie Howe is under pressure at St James’ Park after a disappointing season (Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The irony of Mourinho telling someone to celebrate respectfully was not understood by most, but his comment understandably angered Vinicius Junior, an innocent party in the case. But apart from that specific issue, there is the broader question of what kind of football Mourinho will bring to the Bernabéu.
It would be a mistake to judge everything in the context of that amazing match between PSG and Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes, but the football Mourinho’s teams have produced in recent years seems like something from the dark ages compared to what is on offer in Paris. However, if Eddie Howe leaves the club at the end of the season, Perez would not be left out to turn to Mourinho again, who has also been linked with a move to St James’ Park.
Even if Mourinho were to sign a second contract at Real Madrid, it is unlikely to work out. But on the plus side, it will be good news, at least for Newcastle United fans.
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