“Mourinho back in Madrid: Contract and return date revealed.”

José Mourinho is on the verge of sealing his explosive return to Real Madrid, in a deal that promises to shake up European football. According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Portuguese coach and the Spanish club have a verbal agreement already in place, with a confirmed contract for two seasons. The official signing will take place immediately after the decisive match between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, scheduled for this Saturday at 8 PM, in the final round of La Liga.

This outcome comes at a time when Mourinho was at the center of an intense battle of interests. Benfica was not indifferent and presented a tempting proposal to keep the coach at the helm, offering a contract renewal that could extend until 2029, linked to the mandate of president Rui Costa and conditioned on meeting strict objectives. However, Mourinho himself revealed, shortly after Benfica’s victory against Estoril last Saturday, that his agent, Jorge Mendes, had been in direct contact with Florentino Pérez, the Real Madrid president, regarding a possible return to Madrid.

Benfica’s wait is now desperate, and Mourinho’s response could arrive at any moment, with the increasingly real possibility of the iconic coach’s departure. Should the exit be confirmed, the club from Luz already has a plan in motion, with Marco Silva emerging as the main candidate to take over the technical command. The Fulham coach is already being approached, and negotiations are expected to pick up pace after Fulham’s clash with Newcastle, which will take place on Sunday in London.

This behind-the-scenes scenario reveals a fierce battle for Mourinho’s future, which could redefine the landscape of Portuguese and Spanish football in the coming seasons. Meanwhile, Benfica fans are left in anticipation, aware that the fate of their coach may be written in Madrid, in a twist worthy of the greatest thrillers in world football.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.