Earlier this week we reported that Benfica had already moved on with Marco Silva lined up. The new detail is Rui Costa's explanation of how José Mourinho left. Benfica announced on Thursday that Mourinho had stepped down after Real Madrid informed the Portuguese club of its intention to activate the manager's release clause, and Costa says the split was effectively settled before the election result was known.
What Rui Costa's version changes
Costa's account matters because it removes a lot of the mystery from Mourinho's departure. Speaking to goal.com, he said: "Benfica only had to wait for the outcome of the Real Madrid election process because of what I just said. He [Mourinho] was assumed that he would be Real Madrid's coach if Florentino won the elections."
That does not amount to an official Real Madrid appointment, and it should not be treated as one. But it does make the move look less like a late opening and more like a sequence both clubs had already accepted.
Costa was even clearer on the split itself. He told goal.com: "[Mourinho] would no longer be Benfica's coach given all the circumstances, in an agreement reached amicably between the parties. He would leave at this moment."
That lines up with the tone of Mourinho's own farewell. Speaking to managingmadrid.com, he said: "I thank president Rui Costa for the opportunity he gave me to work for Benfica. Representing this club was an honor and a privilege."
There is another part of Costa's explanation that should not be missed. He said Benfica had understood Mourinho would not start the final year of his contract and had expected to renew him before Real Madrid entered the picture. For Benfica, that is a bigger admission than the goodbye itself. It tells you the club thought it still had a future with Mourinho until Madrid reopened a door that rarely stays shut for long.
Why there is still a small gap between expected and official
This is where the reporting needs a bit of precision. One version of events says the move depended on Florentino Pérez winning the election. Another says it is already a matter of timing, with Real Madrid having informed Benfica that it intends to activate Mourinho's clause.
Those positions are not identical, but they are close enough to point in the same direction. Costa frames the election as the final condition. Reports from Spain frame the appointment as entering its final stages rather than hanging in the balance. The sensible reading is that the public confirmation has lagged behind the private certainty.
That distinction matters because Real Madrid have not officially announced Mourinho. It also matters because Benfica's side of the story makes clear they were not blindsided on Thursday. They had already concluded he would not continue.
The job waiting for Mourinho in Madrid is not a rescue mission, but it is a hard reset
If Mourinho does return, he is not walking into a broken team. He is walking into a demanding one. Real Madrid finished 2nd in La Liga with 86 points and a +42 goal difference. Their recent league form was WWWLW.
That is a decent platform by most standards, just not by Madrid's. The bigger issue is the one hanging over the whole decision: the club have gone two consecutive seasons without winning a major trophy.
Europe adds to that pressure. Real Madrid finished 9th in the Champions League group phase with 15 points from 8 games, a return that underlines why a simple "they were close" argument does not quite cover it.
Former Madrid midfielder Granero sees the logic in going back to Mourinho. He told madriduniversal.com: "I think he's an extraordinary coach, with enormous experience and great ability, and I wish him all the luck in the world. What's good for him will be good for Real Madrid."
Granero also offered a softer reading of the pressure around the club: "The last few years have been extraordinary. You can't always win every title. The other teams are also very competitive and good, and we'll surely improve this year too, and Madrid will always be there."
That is fair as far as it goes. Madrid are not in collapse, and the numbers show a side with a strong baseline. Still, two years without a major trophy is enough to trigger a change at this level, and Mourinho would be returning for a second spell with very little patience built in.
Benfica, meanwhile, are left dealing with the fallout from a plan that changed quickly. They sit 3rd in the Primeira Liga with 80 points and recent form of WDDWW, so this is not a club falling apart. It is a club that thought it would renew its coach, then had to move on once Real Madrid called.
There is also noise around Fulham and Alvaro Arbeloa, but that story is less settled. Some reports describe the talks as advanced, while BBC reporting has played down suggestions that negotiations are that far along. For now, Mourinho remains the part of this managerial chain with the clearest shape, even if the formal announcement is still pending.
The next step is straightforward enough. Mourinho is expected to be unveiled before preseason preparations begin in mid-July, and when that happens Real Madrid will be asking him to end a two-season trophy drought, not just tidy up a transition.
FAQ
Will José Mourinho officially return to Real Madrid soon?
The move is expected and has entered its final stages, but it has not been officially confirmed by Real Madrid. Benfica announced on Thursday that Mourinho had stepped down after Madrid informed the Portuguese club of its intention to activate his release clause. Reports say he is expected to be unveiled before preseason preparations begin in mid-July.
Why did José Mourinho leave Benfica for Real Madrid?
Rui Costa said Benfica had already understood Mourinho would not start the final year of his contract and that the exit became clear once Real Madrid entered the picture. Costa also said Benfica only had to wait for the outcome of the election process because Mourinho was expected to become Madrid coach if Florentino Pérez won.
What kind of situation is Mourinho returning to at Real Madrid?
He is walking into a high-pressure job. Real Madrid have gone two consecutive seasons without a major trophy, finished 2nd in La Liga with 86 points and ended the league with a +42 goal difference. Their Champions League campaign also fell short, with Madrid finishing 9th in the group phase on 15 points from 8 games.
Did Benfica already plan to keep Mourinho before Real Madrid moved?
Yes. Rui Costa said Benfica had expected to renew Mourinho before Real Madrid emerged. He also described the departure as amicable, saying Mourinho would no longer be Benfica's coach given the circumstances and that the split was agreed between the parties.
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