The Emotional Farewell of Mourinho From Benfica to Real Madrid

The Portuguese coach thanked Rui Costa, the staff, and his players with a message on Instagram before being presented at the Bernabéu.

Goodbye to Benfica and the good season of the Portuguese team

José Mourinho closed his chapter at Benfica with an emotional message on Instagram, where he thanked President Rui Costa, the Benfica Campus staff, and the players for the support received. "My player for a day, my player for a lifetime," he wrote, emphasizing the personal bond he built with his team.

His second stint in Lisbon left a positive balance, an unbeaten domestic campaign, third place in the Primeira Liga, and the conquest of the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. However, Real Madrid's interest ultimately marked the outcome. The Spanish club paid a compensation of 17 million dollars to release him, in an operation that Florentino Pérez turned into a flagship of his re-election campaign.

The signals from Florentino Pérez

The president of the merengue team has already shown signs of support for the coach with high-caliber signings. The offer of 173 million dollars for Julián Álvarez, rejected by Atlético de Madrid, reflects the ambition to end the two-year drought without major titles at the Bernabéu. In parallel, Jorge Mendes met in Madrid with José Ángel Sánchez and Juni Calafat to finalize the last details of the agreement.

Mourinho's future

The official presentation of Mourinho as the new coach of Real Madrid is scheduled for this Wednesday. His return opens a chapter full of expectations in Chamartín, with the mission of bringing the club back to the top of Europe and recovering the competitive identity that characterizes it.