After the 3-1 victory against Estoril on the evening of 16/5 in the final round of the Portuguese national championship, Mourinho spoke about his future for the first time. The 63-year-old coach stated he still has one year left on his contract with Benfica and has received an extension offer from the club management.

"Right now, the probability of me staying is 99%, because I still have a contract, and Benfica has also sent an extension offer that I haven't reviewed yet," he said. "My agent says it's a great offer."

Coach Jose Mourinho arrives at the stadium before the Benfica vs. Real Madrid Champions League group stage match at Da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal on 17/2/2026. Photo: AP

However, the Portuguese coach also confirmed that discussions are taking place between his agent, Jorge Mendes, and President Florentino Perez and the Real Madrid management. "Regarding Real, nothing is concrete at the moment," he continued. "But I repeat, no one here is foolish. The only thing that exists are conversations between Jorge Mendes and President Perez and the Real management."

Mourinho is a leading candidate to replace Alvaro Arbeloa at Real. If he returns to the Bernabeu stadium, this would mark his second tenure with the Spanish club, following his period from 2010 to 2013.

Mourinho also admitted his future decision depends on what Real Madrid truly wants from him, rather than financial considerations. "It's not about a euro more or less. What matters is what they want me to do, what kind of work they require, and whether I am a good fit," the 63-year-old coach stated. "I need more time to discuss and analyze before making a final choice."

This season, Mourinho guided Benfica through an unbeaten campaign in the Portuguese league with 23 wins and 11 draws. Despite this, the team finished third with 80 points, eight points behind Porto and two points less than Sporting. This means they will not secure a spot in the Champions League next season, as only the top 2 teams qualify.

This is a rare occurrence in European football where a team remains unbeaten for an entire season but fails to win their domestic league. Benfica also became the first club in Portugal since the 1977-1978 season to experience this situation.

Mourinho expressed regret for his players, suggesting that the third-place finish does not accurately reflect Benfica's performance. "Third place does not even reflect the work this team has done," he said. "The only thing the team can be satisfied with this season is the honor of being the only unbeaten team in Europe."

The Portuguese coach also expressed dissatisfaction with fans criticizing his players recently. "It pains me to hear boos from the stands when the team arrives or leaves the stadium. These players deserve more respect," Mourinho added.

Following the match against Estoril, Mourinho confirmed he had a general farewell with his players, wishing good luck to those departing and a good holiday to those staying.

In 3/2026, Mourinho had stated he was ready to sign an extension immediately. However, his contract with Benfica includes a special clause related to the club's presidential election. When signing a two-year contract in 9/2025, both parties agreed to include a clause allowing him to leave if President Rui Costa failed in the election. This clause remains valid for the coming days.

"I have no criticism for President Rui Costa," Mourinho said. "We mutually agreed on this type of contract from the beginning."

Despite consistently denying any agreement with Real Madrid, Mourinho leaves open the possibility of leaving Benfica after just one season. The 63-year-old manager also emphasized that if he departs, he does not need to explain his reasons.

Hoang An (according to O Jogo, Publico)