Romano posted on Friday: "Real Madrid have started the José Mourinho operation with direct contacts now taking place. Benfica want Mou to stay at all costs but are aware of Real talks ongoing. It depends on Madrid. Up to Florentino Pérez — he will decide if Mourinho returns or not."
Diario AS reported that Real Madrid's board view Mourinho as the only manager capable of handling a dressing room that has proved unmanageable for both Xabi Alonso, who was sacked earlier this season, and his replacement Álvaro Arbeloa. The 63-year-old Portuguese manager previously led Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España.
Mourinho met Pérez in a video conference lasting approximately one hour last week, with long-term agent Jorge Mendes present as an observer. In that meeting, Mourinho laid out three non-negotiable conditions for any return: absolute sporting control, a restructuring of the medical department and full disciplinary authority over the squad — requirements directly shaped by the internal power struggles that defined the final months of his first tenure.
Mourinho's Benfica contract, signed when he took charge last September, runs until June 2027 but contains a release clause of around €3million that would allow him to depart within ten days of the end of their season. Benfica president Rui Costa has made multiple attempts to retain him and is said to have "great concern" about his departure. Those efforts have not moved the situation.
Other names on Real Madrid's shortlist include Mauricio Pochettino, Lionel Scaloni and Didier Deschamps — all of whom are committed to national team duties at the World Cup this summer and would not be available until the autumn. Zinedine Zidane and Jürgen Klopp have both denied involvement.
Mourinho has not said yes. He has not said no. He has set his price. Pérez will respond next week — likely the day after Sunday's Clásico makes Real Madrid's La Liga fate mathematically clear.