Benfica’s head coach, Jose Mourinho, affirmed his ability to decline any offers from Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, as he downplayed talks of a potential comeback to the Spanish giants on Monday. Mourinho’s Benfica team is set to face Real Madrid in a Champions League play-off round match on Tuesday, with the return leg scheduled at the Santiago Bernabeu next week. The 63-year-old Portuguese manager, who previously managed Madrid from 2010 to 2013, has a clause in his contract with Benfica that permits him to leave, sparking speculations that Perez might consider him for the next season.
Mourinho led Benfica to a 4-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage in January, setting up a rematch between the two clubs in the play-off round. When asked if he could reject an approach from the Madrid president, Mourinho responded, “Can you say no? Yes, you can.” While acknowledging his close relationship with Perez and ties to Madrid, Mourinho explained that the contract clause was activated due to Benfica’s upcoming presidential elections in November 2025, shortly after he signed his deal.
Expressing his sentiments towards Real Madrid, Mourinho stated, “I gave everything to Real Madrid, everything that I had, I did good things, I did bad things, but I gave absolutely everything and that’s all.” He emphasized that his current focus is on Benfica, stressing that his contract was a unique arrangement given the electoral period. Despite the ease of terminating the contract, Mourinho emphasized that his commitment lies solely with Benfica and not with Real Madrid.
Mourinho expressed his desire to eliminate Real Madrid from the Champions League, while also acknowledging the talent and potential of Alvaro Arbeloa as a coach, wishing for his success. Looking ahead to the upcoming match, Mourinho anticipated a tougher challenge from Real Madrid, emphasizing their status as top contenders for the Champions League title. Arbeloa, on the other hand, stated his determination to advance to the last 16 and downplayed speculations about Kylian Mbappe’s potential involvement, indicating that a decision would be made closer to the match.
Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga highlighted the team’s changed mentality and determination for revenge at the Estadio da Luz, emphasizing the importance of playing as a cohesive unit to secure a victory and appease their supporters after a previous defeat in the competition.