Real Madrid could be forced to pay up to 15 million euros to appoint Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, after the release clause in his contract with Benfica expired at the end of May, reports The Athletic.
According to reports, Mourinho is close to returning to the Santiago Bernabeu for a second adventure on the bench of the Madrid club, after reportedly reaching an agreement for a three-year contract with the Spanish giants.
The initial release clause in his contract with Benfica was around €6 million, but it was only valid for 10 working days after the end of the Portuguese club’s season and expired on May 29.
Real Madrid did not activate this clause within the deadline, mainly due to the uncertainties created by the electoral process for the club’s president.
Club president Florentino Perez announced the elections on May 12, despite his mandate being valid until 2029.
This development delayed plans to formalize Mourinho’s arrival, while businessman Enrique Riquelme entered the race for the presidency.
The report states that Mourinho had reached an agreement with Real Madrid immediately after Benfica’s final match of the season on May 16, but the Spanish club decided not to activate the clause during the election period.
Sources close to the matter say that the clause has already increased to 15 million euros.
However, Real Madrid and Benfica could still negotiate a separate deal, although the Portuguese club reportedly has no intention of lowering its financial demands.
Despite this complication, Madrid’s leaders remain determined to bring Mourinho back to the team, while planning for the technical staff and summer transfer strategy has already begun.
