The speculation surrounding Álvaro Arbeloa’s potential successor at Real Madrid continues, with Jürgen Klopp and José Mourinho topping the list of candidates being considered by Florentino Pérez’s board for the summer transfer window.
Arbeloa now needs a miracle to stay at Real Madrid. Spanish media reports indicate that the only way for him to remain is by winning La Liga, a near impossibility given the nine-point gap with Barcelona with only seven matches remaining.
Real Madrid has recently begun its search for a new manager, and several names have been floated. The latest development is that Mourinho appears interested in the position, unlike Jürgen Klopp, who currently serves as the head of global football at Red Bull.
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Klopp is not interested in coaching Real Madrid and has other aspirations
According to the newspaper AS, there has been no contact whatsoever with Klopp. The Real Madrid board is aware that the German coach does not want to return and has decided not to proceed with his appointment unless he takes a step that at least hints at his interest in the position.
Those close to Klopp say he is very happy in his current administrative role, a fact he himself has repeatedly confirmed. It is unlikely he will leave Red Bull and return to club coaching after dedicating more than 25 years to the sport.
The report added that Klopp would only be interested in coaching the German national team if he decides to return to coaching soon, especially since the opportunity might arise after the 2026 World Cup if Julian Nagelsmann fails to achieve Germany’s objectives or decides to leave for one of the English clubs interested in acquiring his services.
Mourinho hints at Real Madrid return
Following days of persistent rumors about Florentino Pérez potentially turning to Mourinho, the Special One appeared at a press conference before the Benfica-Sporting Lisbon match and indirectly hinted at his desire for a second stint at the Santiago Bernabéu.
When asked if he would remain at Benfica next year, Mourinho said, “It doesn’t depend solely on me. I’m a coach at the club, and there are players, a media director, an equipment manager, and a physiotherapist.”
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He added, “In the same way that I think you, as a journalist, can’t guarantee you’ll be here for the next ten years. You might want to, but you can’t guarantee it.”
The discussion continued with another journalist on the same topic. Mourinho was asked, “Why don’t you guarantee your stay?” He replied, “Can you guarantee you’ll stay at your club for next season?” The journalist responded, “Yes, because nobody wants me,” at which point Mourinho burst out laughing.
A meeting between Mourinho and Perez is expected soon
According to the Portuguese newspaper Record, Mourinho has not yet received an offer from Real Madrid, but things are expected to move forward in the coming period, given President Florentino Perez’s firm belief that “The Special One” is capable of returning Los Blancos to winning ways.
Perez and his entourage believe that Real Madrid needs a coach with a strong personality who can command the dressing room from the outset, and in this regard, there is no one better than Mourinho at the moment.
It is worth noting that Mourinho led Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, and according to sources close to him, he welcomes the move to return to the Spanish capital, especially since he will most likely leave Benfica at the end of the current season.
