Is Arbeloa's exit a done deal? Real's managerial shake-up is taking shape

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The signs pointing to a return for José Mourinho to Real Madrid are becoming increasingly clear – the Portuguese manager is now even said to be the frontrunner.

Jose Mourinho is edging closer to a return to crisis-hit Real Madrid. Sky Sports reports that the Portuguese, who previously managed the club from 2010 to 2013 and is still under contract at Benfica, is now the frontrunner—though he has two non-negotiable demands.

According to the report, Real Madrid officials met with Mourinho's management team at the start of the week to advance negotiations, and contact has already been made with the manager himself. Club general manager Jose Angel Sanchez is said to be driving the push for Mourinho's appointment.

According to The Athletic, the 63-year-old also enjoys strong support from president Florentino Pérez and is seen as the favoured candidate to return to the Real Madrid dugout next summer, 13 years after his last spell.

Mourinho is said to be open to the move, but he has outlined two conditions: Sky reports that he wants "full control" and "a major say in transfers" before returning to the Bernabéu.

Return to Real Madrid? Reports claim Mourinho has a release clause.

José Mourinho has stopped short of guaranteeing he will remain Benfica manager beyond the current campaign. When asked if he would still be in charge of the Portuguese record champions for the 2026/27 season, he replied: "I can't say. How can I confirm something like that? It doesn't just depend on me."

He added, "A manager is part of a club's structure, just like any other staff member or a journalist in an editorial office. You're a journalist at 'A Bola'. Can you guarantee you'll still be there in ten years' time? Maybe you want to, but you can't." Mourinho's conclusion was blunt: "Of course I can't guarantee anything," though he stressed, "There's nothing from Real Madrid!"

According to The Athletic, Mourinho has a €3 million release clause in his contract, which runs until 2027—a fee Real Madrid could activate with ease.