A clause in José Mourinho's Benfica contract that allowed either party to terminate the agreement within ten days of the club's final match of the season expired at midnight on Tuesday 26 May. The departure fee available under that window was €3 million net — broadly €7 million gross when taxes and associated costs are factored in.
With the deadline passed, Benfica's asking price for Mourinho rises to €15 million. Real Madrid's presidential elections, still ongoing as Florentino Pérez faces a challenge from Enrique Riquelme, prevented the formal completion of a deal that both the club and the coach had verbally agreed.
The clause existed for reasons that had nothing to do with Real Madrid.
When Mourinho joined Benfica in September 2025, club president Rui Costa was facing a fiercely contested presidential election against João Noronha Lopes. Costa's solution was simple: if he lost power, the incoming president should have a quick and clean route to remove the manager he had not chosen. Mourinho would also be protected from becoming trapped in an unstable political situation.
Costa won re-election in November 2025 with more than 65 per cent of the vote. The clause survived regardless.
Benfica's season ended on 16 May with a 3-1 victory over Estoril Praia. That result began the ten-day countdown. Today it ends.
The irony is sharp. A clause designed to protect Benfica from its own internal politics has become the mechanism that has made Mourinho significantly more expensive for Real Madrid — a club whose own electoral politics prevented them from acting in time.
Mourinho finished his single season in Lisbon in third place in the Primeira Liga, behind Porto and Sporting CP, meaning Benfica will now compete in the second qualifying round of the Europa League rather than the Champions League. His record in Portugal was unbeaten in the league, but the points were not enough.
Real Madrid are expected to proceed regardless. The verbal agreement between Mourinho and Pérez remains in place, and the Portuguese coach is relaxed about the delay. But the price of that patience just doubled.