Real Madrid has found themselves in a financial predicament over Jose Mourinho, specifically due to a time-sensitive release clause in his current contract with Benfica, which runs until the summer of 2027.
The Portuguese manager reached a final agreement to take over at the Santiago Bernabeu ten days ago. However, Florentino Perez’s administration delayed finalizing the deal with Benfica and postponed the official announcement of the “Special One’s” return due to the upcoming club presidential elections.
How Delayed Elections Doubled Mourinho’s Price Tag
Perez’s original plan was to trigger Mourinho’s release clause just two days after the season ended. At that point, Real Madrid would have only paid €6 million to secure the 63-year-old tactician for his second stint with Los Blancos.
However, after calling early presidential elections, Perez found himself in a fierce electoral battle against rival candidate Enrique Riquelme, with voting set for June 7th. As a result, Perez chose to delay all official sporting moves until the voting concluded in his favor.
Consequently, that delay has proved costly. Real Madrid must now pay €15 million to Benfica if they want to finalize Mourinho’s hiring—more than double the initial fee required before the May 29th deadline passed.
Perez Hopes for a Discount from Rui Costa
There is a glimmer of hope for Florentino Perez, who aims to negotiate a lower fee with Benfica’s president, Rui Costa. However, it is highly unlikely that the Portuguese club will compromise on the price.
This leaves Real Madrid on the verge of paying a record-breaking fee for a manager, right before entering a crucial summer transfer window that already demands massive financial backing.
