Real Madrid agree £12.9m deal to appoint Jose Mourinho as manager

Real Madrid have agreed to pay Benfica £12.9m to reappoint Jose Mourinho as their head coach following the departure of Alvaro Arbeloa.

The Portuguese tactician’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu accelerated after Florentino Perez was re-elected as club president over the weekend.

An official announcement is expected imminently after the Spanish giants confirmed Arbeloa had stepped down from his position on Tuesday evening.

Arbeloa departs the Bernabeu

Real Madrid CF and Alvaro Arbeloa have reached an agreement to end his time as first team coach.

Los Blancos issued a statement thanking the departing manager for his loyalty, commitment, and professionalism throughout his lengthy association with the club.

Real Madrid, which will always be his home, wishes Alvaro Arbeloa and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.

Mourinho previously managed the La Liga heavyweights between 2010 and 2013, famously winning the domestic title in record-breaking fashion during his second season.

His impending arrival triggers a swift managerial shuffle in Lisbon, with former Fulham boss Marco Silva stepping into the immediate vacancy.

Silva secures Benfica switch

The reigning Portuguese champions confirmed the financial compensation package from Madrid via a formal regulatory statement on social media.

Benfica SAD has informed the CMVM that Real Madrid CF has formally expressed its intention to hire Jose Mourinho for the amount of 15 million euros, with the coach having given his agreement.

Silva has formally signed an initial two-year employment contract with the Eagles to replace the departing head coach.

This new agreement includes an option to extend the 46-year-old’s tenure at the Estadio da Luz until the end of the 2028-29 campaign.