Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid is all set to be confirmed after Florentino Perez was re-elected as president of the Los Blancos at the weekend.
Perez had already confirmed Mourinho’s expected return to be Real Madrid’s next manager at Santiago Bernabeu in his speech after seeing off the challenge of Enrique Riquelme during the election.
The 79-year-old made no secret of his intention to name the Portuguese as manager should he seal an eighth term as Real Madrid president.
“Proud to have the best players in the world, proud to welcome back one of the best coaches in the world, a Madridista like Jose Mourinho,” Perez had said.
Following Perez’s comments, it was later reported that Mourinho, who is the current manager of Benfica, has agreed a three-year deal to return to Real Madrid he managed from 2010-2013.
Mourinho will replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who was appointed in January after Xabi Alonso departed from the Spanish LaLiga giants.
The 63-year-old won three major trophies – La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España – during his first tenure as Real Madrid manager.
His Benfica side were unbeaten in the Primeira Liga last season but finished in third position after drawing 11 of their 34 games.
Benfica has already reached an agreement with Marco Silva to replace Mourinho as head coach at the Portuguese club.
Silva, who recently left Fulham after five years in charge of the Premier League club, has agreed on a two-year contract to become Benfica’s next manager after Mourinho.
However, can Mourinho, who has coached the likes of Fenerbahce, Porto, Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Inter Milan in the past, end Real Madrid’s trophy drought as he returns to the Spanish capital this summer?
NEWSUNPLUG reports that the last time Real Madrid won a major trophy was the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in 2024 after beating Mexican side Pachuca 3-0 in the final in Qatar.
Before winning the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, they also won the 2024 UEFA Super Cup in August and the 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League in June 2024.
Speaking with NEWSUNPLUG about the development, Lagos-based journalist, Femi Fabunmi, believes Mourinho is the right man to guide Real Madrid back to winning ways.
“Jose Mourinho is a coach who has paid his dues and knows his onions. He’s been there before and knows that standard at the Bernabeau,” Fabunmi said.
“He can’t afford to do anything less than the bar at Real Madrid.
Recently, the club has been experiencing difficulties, so he knows that he needs to steady the ship and pilot it to a greater height.
“He can do it, and he would do it. I trust reelected Florentino Perez to support him and the Special One to deliver too.”
Also speaking with NEWSUNPLUG on the development, Audu Ojo, the head coach of Dawaki Rangers, insisted that Mourinho is capable of achieving great things at Madrid.
He, however, warned that the Portuguese need to sign some of the big stars at Madrid to achieve his plan at the club.
“Yes, he is capable of achieving great things at Real Madrid. Meanwhile, he will need to sell some of these big boys players like Mbappe, Vinicius and a host of others,” Ojo said.
“These players will eventually sabotage his effort because they feel too pompous.”