José Mourinho set for stunning Real Madrid return after 13 years

José Mourinho is on the brink of a sensational return to Real Madrid, with the club locked in final negotiations to bring him back to the Bernabéu 13 years after his first spell in charge.

The 63-year-old is not just the leading candidate. Right now, he is the only candidate. Real Madrid are in talks with no one else as they move to appoint a new head coach.

If the deal is completed, Mourinho will replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who stepped into the role only in January after Xabi Alonso’s departure. Arbeloa’s brief tenure now looks set to become a short chapter between two heavyweight eras.

Florentino Pérez moved quickly. Just two days after Alonso left the club, the Real Madrid president reopened a door many thought had closed for good, initiating discussions with Mourinho’s representatives about a dramatic return. From there, the idea gathered pace.

Mourinho, currently in charge of Benfica, has been officially tied to the Portuguese club on a two-year contract since September. Publicly, he has tried to hold the line and keep the focus on the present. Asked about his future only yesterday, he pushed the conversation away from Madrid and back towards Lisbon.

“There's a match against Estoril, and from Monday onwards I'll be able to answer questions about my future as a coach and Benfica's future,” he said.

That match against Estoril Praia, Benfica’s final fixture of the season on Saturday, now carries an extra layer of intrigue. It could be Mourinho’s last game in charge before he walks back into one of the most demanding jobs in world football.

His first spell at Real Madrid, between 2010 and 2013, left deep marks on the club and on La Liga. Mourinho’s Madrid broke Barcelona’s domestic dominance, lifting La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. His team racked up records, feuded with rivals and turned every Clásico into a storm.

Now, with Pérez ready to turn to him again and negotiations entering their final stretch, the question hangs over the Bernabéu: can the “Special One” still bend Madrid to his will a second time?