Club considering suing Jose Mourinho

Despite reportedly signing his Real Madrid contract, former Manchester United manager and self-proclaimed ‘special one’, Jose Mourinho, could be in legal trouble.

The 63-year-old technically remains Benfica manager for now, and will not be announced at Real Madrid until their Presidential situation is made clear.

Current Club President, Florentino Perez, is leading the charge for Mourinho to step out as Los Blancos manager for the first time in 13 years. However, Perez is fighting it out in the polls in the club’s presidential election. If he loses to rival Enrique Riquelme, who has been outspoken against the appointment, Mourinho will seemingly return to Benfica.

If Perez wins the election, Real Madrid will have to pay Mourinho’s current employers €15m to appoint him. The whole situation has not impressed the Liga Portugal club, who have become embroiled in a situation that is now driven by politics rather than football.

According to Portuguese newspaper, Correio de Manha, President of Benfica, Rui Costa, ‘wants to guard himself, using as a throwing weapon the fact that Mourinho made a deal with Perez to train another club when he was still coach of Benfica.’

It appears a lawsuit has not yet been filed, but the club’s hierarchy wants to keep their options open, in a messy situation.

According to the outlet, Mourinho denied wearing a Real Madrid jersey, despite an image released by Florentino Perez’s Twitter account making him appear to do so, but did not deny the agreement between him and Los Blancos.

The Real Madrid election is due to take place on Sunday 7th June 2026, with voting polls open throughout the day, from 8am to 9pm.

That will be the day when it becomes clear where the next steps lie. Either Florentino Perez loses and Mourinho’s appointment as Real Madrid boss is cancelled, or the 63-year-old is appointed and potentially faces legal action from Benfica.

Whatever happens next, this doesn’t feel like a situation set to lie down soon, with the ex-United boss in controversy – not unusual territory for him.