The Special One returns: Mourinho reportedly reaches agreement with Real Madrid

[p]The official announcement is expected to take place next week, after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a]'s final LaLiga match of the season. Los Blancos [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ath-bilbao-IP5zl0cJ/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=hf989Iwo"]will host Athletic Club on Saturday evening[/a].[/p][p]In this way, Real Madrid are taking advantage of a clause in Mourinho's contract with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benfica/zBkyuyRI/"]Benfica[/a], which allows either party to terminate the agreement within 10 days after the end of Liga Portugal for a fee of around three million euros.[/p][embed guid="c9a5aead-15be-4969-a17e-8b218dfeb101" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2056292538705649901" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Portuguese manager admitted he would use this time to reflect, also confirming he has a renewal offer from Benfica on the table. Rui Costa promised to address the club members this week to explain the situation.[/p][p]If confirmed, this will mark the end of Mourinho's second spell at Benfica. After 11 matches in the 2000/01 season, the 'Special One' returned to Lisbon to replace Bruno Lage in September.[/p][p]He recorded 27 wins in 45 games, with the team finishing third and missing out on the Champions League, as well as being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Taca de Portugal, the semi-finals of the Taca da Liga, and the Champions League playoffs, against Real Madrid.[/p][image alt="Real Madrid will finish the LaLiga season in second place" id="92669b38-2ca8-4dd9-a897-beada3f92a21" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="c2fd5cc7-856f-467a-8255-a33fa473a54e" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Upon his return to Madrid, he will face a challenging situation. The Merengues will finish as runners-up in Spain, lost the Super Cup, were knocked out in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, and exited in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, in a season marked by several dressing room conflicts.[/p][p]Their campaign began with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alonso-xabi/hAcTWKKN/"]Xabi Alonso[/a] as head coach, but ended with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arbeloa-alvaro/CO9bjrLo/"]Alvaro Arbeloa[/a] as interim manager.[/p]