Real Madrid will pay Benfica €15 million ($17.4 million) to sign José Mourinho as head coach if Florentino Pérez wins the upcoming presidential election on June 7, 2026 [1, 2]. Mourinho is currently under contract with Benfica until June 30, 2027 [1, 2].
The release clause of €15 million was recently raised from about €7 million ($8.1 million), which could have been activated within 10 working days following Benfica's season end on May 16, 2026 [1]. Benfica's last game of the season occurred on May 16, after which the lower €7 million release clause expired after 10 working days [1].
Pérez is making Mourinho's potential appointment a central part of his re-election campaign. He praises Mourinho’s previous tenure at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, saying, "He was the coach of that famous League of Records. He gave the team very high levels of competitiveness and that was very important for everything that was achieved afterwards" [1].
Benfica publicly confirmed Pérez’s campaign pledge, stating: "Sport Lisboa e Benfica announces that, as part of his campaign for the Real Madrid CF presidency, President Florentino Pérez has stated his firm intention to appoint José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix as manager should he win the club's presidential election, scheduled for 7 June 2026" [2]. The club added that the appointment would require payment of the €15 million termination clause in Mourinho’s current contract [2].
Pérez aims to rebuild Real Madrid to better compete with Barcelona and Bayern Munich [1]. His main rival in the vote is Enrique Riquelme, who promises to sign Erling Haaland and Rodri, appoint Raúl González as director of football, and Fernando Hierro as academy director [1, 2].
The Real Madrid presidential election will take place on June 7, 2026, when club members will decide between Pérez and Riquelme [1, 2]. If Pérez wins, the club plans to pay the €15 million release clause to bring Mourinho back as head coach.
