Jose Mourinho is emerging as a leading candidate for Real Madrid's head coach position next season. According to Spanish journalist Sergio Valentin of esRadio, the Portuguese strategist held an online meeting with President Florentino Perez, where both parties initially exchanged views.

Mourinho and Real Madrid celebrate winning the La Liga championship in the 2011-2012 season. Photo: Bleacher

While specific terms are still under consideration, the key factor currently is timing. If Mourinho is the final choice, the Royal Club will not make any formal moves until after their final league match of the season against Bilbao in the 38th round of La Liga on 24/5.

Another important milestone is 16/5, when the Portuguese National Championship concludes with Benfica's match against Estoril. Under his contract with Benfica, which runs until 2027, Mourinho will have 10 days to consider his future. During this period, he can review offers and accept them if suitable, with a release clause of approximately USD 3,5 million.

If a decision is not made after this deadline, Mourinho's release fee will increase to USD 5,8 million. This figure is reportedly making Real Madrid more cautious in their search for a new coach.

As the timeline progresses, Mourinho has also put forward three conditions for his return to the Bernabeu. First, he requests a minimum two-year contract, aiming for sufficient time to rebuild and stabilize the team rather than facing short-term pressure. Second, he wants a limited role in media appearances. During his previous tenure at Real Madrid from 2010-2013, Mourinho frequently engaged with the media in various contexts. This time, he wishes to restrict his appearances to mandatory professional press conferences, focusing on first-team matters, while club representatives would handle statements related to external controversies.

His final condition involves full autonomy in selecting his coaching staff. This could lead to changes in some current positions. Fitness coach Antonio Pintus is reportedly not part of Mourinho's plans, while current coach Alvaro Arbelo may continue with the first team in a suitable role.

Perez's initial response is said to be cautious. The club president has not made any specific commitments regarding these requests, which has reportedly left Mourinho and his agent Jorge Mendes somewhat disappointed, as they had hoped for clearer assurances.

Mourinho (left) and President Rui Costa at the Benfica unveiling ceremony. Photo: Benfica

Meanwhile, Benfica is reportedly considering offering Mourinho a contract extension, despite the current agreement having more than one year remaining. President Rui Costa aims to retain the experienced coach, given the difficulty of finding a comparable replacement.

According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Marco Silva is a highly regarded option within Benfica if Mourinho departs. The Portuguese manager currently leads Fulham, and his contract is set to expire in 6/2026. He previously managed Everton, Watford, and Hull City, after starting his coaching career at Estoril and Sporting.

Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid from 2010-2013, securing one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Spanish Super Cup. The team's winning percentage under the Portuguese coach reached 71.9%, the third highest in history after Manuel Pellegrini from 2009-2010 (75%) and Carlo Ancelotti from 2013-2015 (74.8%). However, he was unable to guide the royal club to a Champions League title, a trophy he had previously won with Porto and Inter Milan.