Mourinho's conditions for agreeing a two-year deal with the club are described by Marca as a unified block — full authority over the dressing room, direct influence over transfers in and out, control over his own coaching staff, a direct line to the medical department, and access solely to president Florentino Pérez rather than other club employees. He has made clear that if any single condition is not met, there is no deal.
The 63-year-old Portuguese has been characteristically pragmatic about the financial side of any agreement.
"It is not about more or less euros. It is about what they expect from me, whether I am in a position to fulfil what they propose, the profile of work they have in mind."
His time coaching Benfica against Madrid in European competition this season gave him a detailed read of the squad's structural weaknesses. In his assessment, the team is over-stocked in certain areas while critically thin in others.
A right-back, a centre-back and a central midfielder are identified as the minimum requirements. He also wants out a number of players he does not consider part of his plans, with reports suggesting up to seven departures could follow his appointment.
The precedent from his first spell, between 2010 and 2013, gives a clear sense of how he approaches squad construction. He insisted on signing Luka Modric from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2012 despite widespread scepticism about a player arriving for what was then described as an extravagant fee.
"Only ask the Madridistas to give him time and have patience. He is so good that the Santiago Bernabéu will fall in love with his class."
He was equally decisive on Ángel Di María, who arrived from Benfica for €25m in 2010 and later proved decisive in the club's Champions League triumph in 2014, when he was named man of the match in the final. After the 2010 World Cup, Mourinho also pushed through the signings of Sami Khedira from VfB Stuttgart for €15m and Mesut Özil, both of whom became essential players.
The current World Cup summer offers a similar scouting window and Mourinho is understood to be monitoring players from the tournament with a view to presenting targets to the club as soon as his appointment is formalised.
An official announcement is expected within days of Real Madrid's final La Liga fixture against Athletic Club on Saturday.