Real Madrid News
Official: Benfica confirm Real Madrid have paid €15m to bring back Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho is set to return to Real Madrid after Benfica officially confirmed that the Spanish giants have completed all procedures required to appoint the Portuguese coach.
The move sees Florentino Perez deliver on one of the biggest promises of his election campaign, with Real Madrid paying €15 million to activate Mourinho’s release clause and secure his return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
As such, Mourinho’s return is expected to generate huge excitement, particularly given the impact he had during his previous stint between 2010 and 2013.
Benfica confirm Mourinho exit
The deal became official after Benfica released a statement confirming that Real Madrid had completed the necessary steps to appoint Mourinho.
A Benfica SAD comunicou à CMVM que o Real Madrid CF formalizou a intenção de contratar José Mourinho pelo valor de 15 milhões de euros, tendo o treinador dado o seu acordo.
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) June 9, 2026
Obrigado, José Mourinho. pic.twitter.com/KXZ6niXRWo
The Portuguese club announced, “Benfica SAD has informed the CMVM that Real Madrid CF has formalised its intention to sign José Mourinho for €15 million, with the coach having given his consent.
“Thank you, José Mourinho.”
Real Madrid paid €15 million to trigger the coach’s release clause, allowing him to leave Benfica despite still being under contract until 2027.
While Mourinho becomes the first major addition of the new presidential term, he is not expected to be the last, as further reinforcements are already being lined up as part of Perez’s plans for the squad.
More signings expected
Mourinho arrives with vast experience, a winning pedigree and a strong connection to Real Madrid.
During his first spell, he helped build one of the most competitive teams in Europe and played a key role in challenging Barcelona’s dominance at the time.
The Portuguese coach will arrive knowing that expectations are immediately high and he will be supported by new signings.
So far, Real Madrid have agreed to sign Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer from Liverpool, while Denzel Dumfries has been signed after activating his €20 million release clause.
Despite these additions, more players are expected to arrive this summer.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender takes major step towards comeback; set for return after international break
Real Madrid are finally beginning to see a clear path back for Eder Militao, with the defender now in the final phase of his rehabilitation and increasingly expected to return after the next international break.
Militao has been sidelined since suffering a tear to the proximal biceps femoris tendon in his left leg during the meeting with Alaves last April.
The injury required surgery, but his recovery has now reached a stage where his return can be discussed in more concrete terms.
Militao steps up rehabilitation at Valdebebas
While Real Madrid completed their preparations for Tuesday night’s trip to Elche, Militao was working separately from the main group at the Valdebebas Training Centre.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian defender carried out specific exercises with the club’s rehabilitation staff and physiotherapists on pitches 1 and 2.
The work represents another step in a recovery process that has kept him away from competitive action for several months.
Mind you, Militao will not be involved against Elche, but the latest signs are considerably more encouraging for what comes next.
Return now expected after international break
The timeline surrounding Militao’s comeback is finally becoming clearer. Provided his recovery continues at its current pace, Real Madrid expect the centre-back to be available to Mourinho once the international break is over.
That break is scheduled to take place from the end of September into the first week of October, meaning Militao could be back by mid-October at the latest.
For a defender who has endured another significant spell on the sidelines, simply having a defined target gives an important moment in his rehabilitation.
Real Madrid still missing players
Militao’s progress is particularly welcome because Real Madrid continue to deal with several absences in the squad.
On that note, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy remain on the injury list and are not expected to return as quickly as Militao.
Both these players are therefore ruled out of the Elche fixture, leaving Mourinho without several established options.
Beyond Elche, though, Militao’s return offers Real Madrid something far more valuable: another experienced defensive option for the demanding weeks ahead.
After surgery and months of rehabilitation, the Brazilian is now entering the final stretch, and if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could have their defender back in the squad around the middle of October.
