Jose Mourinho Returns to Real Madrid on €15 Million Deal After Benfica Release Clause Triggered

The Portuguese manager has signed a contract until 2029 and returns to the Santiago Bernabéu with full authority over the dressing room following a trophyless season marked by internal strife.

Real Madrid have confirmed the appointment of Jose Mourinho, triggering a €15 million release clause to pry the Portuguese coach away from Benfica and bring him back to the Spanish capital on a long-term contract running until 2029.

The return of “The Special One” was a central campaign pledge of president Florentino Perez, who emerged victorious in recent club elections. Mourinho’s arrival follows a turbulent campaign for the Merengues, who finished the season without a trophy and saw the dressing room fractured by a series of internal incidents, including a reported altercation between Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni.

The discord began last October when Vinicius Junior showed visible frustration after being substituted during a Clasico. The decline accelerated under former manager Xabi Alonso, whose eventual departure paved the way for an Alvaro Arbeloa reign that failed to arrest the slump. Arbeloa’s tenure was further marked by a verbal exchange with Kylian Mbappe after the Frenchman was relegated to the bench.

Mourinho now arrives with full powers and absolute jurisdiction over the dressing room, tasked with steadying a ship that has drifted aimlessly. Known for his uncompromising approach, he must galvanise a squad capable of reclaiming its winning DNA.

During his first stint at Madrid from 2010 to 2013, Mourinho awakened a sleeping giant that had suffered six consecutive Champions League round-of-16 exits. Under his stewardship, the club reached three consecutive semi-finals, and while the final remained elusive, he laid the foundations for the six Champions League titles Madrid have lifted in the 12 years since. His first cycle yielded three titles: the 2010-11 Copa del Rey against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, the 2012 Spanish Super Cup, and the 2011-12 “League of Records,” where his side amassed 100 points and scored 121 goals.

However, his first stint ended acrimoniously, marked by wear and tear in relationships with both the squad and the media, including his decision to drop Iker Casillas and his fiery press conferences.

According to a report by Accra Street Journal, Mourinho’s return comes after a winding journey through England, Italy, Turkey and Portugal. Since leaving Madrid, he has managed Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, adding a Premier League title and Europa League to his collection. At Roma, he delivered the inaugural UEFA Conference League title, making him the only manager to win all three major contemporary European club trophies. After a brief spell at Fenerbahce, he returned to Benfica, where his managerial career began in 2000, before Madrid came calling again.

Now Mourinho returns with two clear missions: to heal a fractured dressing room and restore Real Madrid to their rightful place as serial trophy winners. Immediate results are the minimum requirement from day one.

Source: Accra Street Journal 

Last Updated on June 11, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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