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The managerial merry-go-round at the Santiago Bernabéu has taken a sensational turn with reports of a high-level summit between two of football’s biggest players.
José Mourinho has become the center of attention as a serious candidate to take back the reins of Real Madrid after direct conversations with the club’s president, Florentino Pérez.
A secret summit in Madrid
“Special One” could have a sensational sequel in the Spanish capital.
According to reports from Esdiario and journalist Sergio Valentín, Mourinho and Pérez held a video conference of approximately one hour to discuss a possible return to the Real Madrid bench.
The meeting was reportedly attended by Mourinho’s long-term representative Jorge Mendes, although the superagent was said to be acting mainly as an observer.
This direct line of communication comes at a time when pressure on the current coaching staff has reached breaking point following a disappointing campaign and growing internal uncertainty.
Mourinho’s non-negotiable demands
While the prospect of a reunion is firmly on the table, the Portuguese tactician is not willing to return to the Bernabeu without full control.
Mourinho, who currently manages Benfica under a contract that runs until 2027, would have established a series of non-negotiable conditions that Pérez must meet before agreeing to lead the project once again.
Interestingly, these lawsuits do not focus on his personal salary or financial package.
Instead, Mourinho is demanding a total overhaul of the club’s internal workings. He is reportedly calling for absolute sporting control, a restructuring of the medical department and full disciplinary authority over the team.
These requirements highlight his desire to avoid the internal politics that plagued the final months of his first term between 2010 and 2013, a period in which he led the team to one title each in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
Opinions divided at the Bernabéu
The news of a possible return of Mourinho has immediately polarized Real Madrid fans.
For many, he remains the coach who broke Barcelona’s dominance and instilled a “killer” winning mentality in the team during one of the most competitive eras in La Liga history.
His experience and tactical discipline are seen by fans as the perfect remedy for the current team’s lack of consistency.
However, others remain wary of the baggage that follows the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager.
His first stage ended in a fractured locker room and public fights with club legends, a memory that still endures in a sector of Real Madrid fans.
The prospect of bringing back such a combustible figure is seen by some as a step backwards rather than a forward-thinking solution.
The ball is in Pérez’s court
Despite the complexity of the negotiations, Mourinho has not closed the door on Europe’s record champions. He has left the possibility open, but the final decision now rests with the president.
Perez is expected to compare Mourinho’s structural demands with those of other potential candidates, such as Unai Emery, who has also been linked with the job.
Perez is expected to give his response to Mourinho sometime next week.
The sticking point remains whether the club is willing to give the manager the unprecedented level of control he craves.
If an agreement is reached, it would mark the beginning of one of the most dramatic and anticipated second acts in sports history.
