According to a report by Spanish newspaper As, the upcoming presidential elections at Real Madrid will delay the official appointment of José Mourinho as the new manager of Los Blancos until the identity of the club’s next president is officially decided.
The “Special One” had previously reached a complete agreement with current president Florentino Pérez on all contract terms. While the Portuguese tactician was widely expected to be unveiled by May 24, the situation has shifted dramatically over the past few hours.
Riquelme Secures Candidacy to Challenge Perez
Spanish media outlets have confirmed that Enrique Riquelme has successfully secured the necessary financial guarantees to officially submit his candidacy for the Real Madrid presidency. As a result, a highly anticipated electoral battle between Riquelme and Pérez will take place in the first week of June.
Consequently, Pérez cannot legally or strategically appoint Mourinho—or any other manager—until he officially wins the election. Handing a coach a long-term contract while facing the possibility of losing the presidency is viewed as a major strategic misstep that would not sit well with the club’s members and fans.
Benfica Set to Profit from the Delay
In reality, Portuguese giants Benfica are the biggest beneficiaries of this sudden electoral twist. Real Madrid originally had a clause to sign Mourinho for a fixed fee of €7 million, provided the deal was finalized before May 26.
Because of the delay, Pérez will now be forced to renegotiate with the Portuguese club in June, which will undoubtedly command a significantly higher price tag. The Lisbon-based club is determined to maximize its financial return from Mourinho’s expected departure and is now poised to demand up to double the original figure to terminate his contract, which currently runs until the summer of 2027.
