“I fear for that dressing room”

Jose Mourinho is reportedly set to add Pepe to his backroom staff at Real Madrid once he takes over. The manager’s return has been confirmed following Florentino Pérez’s victory in the club’s presidential election.

According to a report in MARCA, Mourinho is working to finalise his coaching staff. He has set his sights on Pepe as one of the key players to add to the team, to help manage the players.

The defender worked with Mourinho at the club and spent 10 years at the Santiago Bernabéu before leaving in 2017. He won the UEFA Champions League three times in his spell with Los Blancos, with as many La Liga titles and two UEFA Super Cups.

The fans have since started reacting to the news on social media, and many have been sharing memes of what the scene could be in the dressing room.

Real Madrid reportedly has had issues in the dressing room since the exit of Carlo Ancelotti last summer. Reports suggest that Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr are not on the same page, while a physical fight between Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde sent the Uruguayan to the hospital too.

Benfica confirm Real Madrid will activate Jose Mourinho’s clause

Jose Mourinho has a €15 million clause in his contract and Benfica have confirmed that Real Madrid have informed them about the plans. They released an official statement, announcing that the manager would be making his move back to the Bernabéu if Perez won the elections and said:

“Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD (“Benfica SAD”) hereby informs that the candidacy of President Florentino Pérez for the Real Madrid CF elections has expressed a firm intention to hire coach José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix should he win the elections for the presidency of said club, scheduled for June 7, 2026. If such a scenario occurs, the signing will be executed for the amount of €15,000,000, corresponding to the release clause of the sports employment contract currently in force.”

Mourinho managed 178 matches at Real Madrid, winning 127 times and losing just 23. However, he managed just one La Liga and one Copa del Rey at the club and will be determined to do better in his second stint.

This is not the first time the Portuguese manager has returned to his former club. He moved back to Chelsea in 2013 after leaving them in 2007, while also returning to Benfica, where he managed in 2000 and since last summer.

Edited by Sripad