Mourinho's Madrid Return on the Cards? Portuguese Boss Stirs the Pot at Benfica as Perez Eyes Shock Reunion

The soap opera at the Bernabéu has taken yet another dramatic twist, with whispers suggesting that Jose Mourinho might be engineering his own departure from Benfica to pave the way for a stunning homecoming at Real Madrid.

Alonso's departure—officially dressed up as "mutual"—has left Madrid in turmoil after just six months, with the Basque coach winning 20 of his opening 28 matches. The real story, however, revolves around dressing-room discord. Star winger Vinicius Junior emerged as the focal point of player discontent, reportedly threatening to walk away with 18 months remaining on his contract, whilst others objected to Alonso's demanding methods and tactical rigidity.

The upshot? The squad got what it wanted. Interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa, a familiar face from his Liverpool and Madrid playing days, now has a six-month audition to convince Perez he's the long-term solution. Madrid currently trail Barcelona by four points in La Liga and sit seventh in the Champions League with some winnable fixtures ahead.

Mourinho's Masterstroke

Enter journalist Alfredo Relano, who's dropped a bombshell claim: Mourinho is deliberately "causing a stir" at Benfica to force his own sacking and clear the path back to the Bernabéu. The COPE correspondent reckons the timing—following Sunday's Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona—was perfect for Perez to make his move, and that the Real Madrid chief has his heart set on reuniting with the Portuguese tactician.

"His ultimate goal is to bring Mourinho back," Relano stated, calling it a "stone bombshell." He added that Mourinho remains "the only one Florentino Perez has been happy with," suggesting a reunion wouldn't surprise him one bit.

Intriguingly, Benfica face Madrid in the Champions League on January 28—a match that could prove rather awkward depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks.

The Klopp Question

Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp has also been thrust into the conversation, though the German has swiftly poured cold water on any notion he's interested. Klopp insisted that news of Alonso's exit "didn't trigger anything" for him, despite receiving direct contact from various parties.

"I was genuinely surprised," Klopp admitted. "A few people messaged me, and I replied with various emojis."

He did, however, offer a telling observation: "If Xabi Alonso is forced to leave Madrid just six months later, it shows that nowadays there's no time anymore. The expectations at Real Madrid are obviously enormous."

The Breakdown

Reports suggest the real turning point came in early November during a training session when Alonso lost his composure with his players. According to Marca, the coach erupted with the withering assessment: "I didn't know I was coming to coach a nursery!"

It wasn't merely a sharp rebuke to grab attention—it was a cry of frustration born from weeks of perceived lethargy and tactical indifference. Players were allegedly sulking, cutting corners in tactical drills, and whispering amongst themselves. When Alonso finally snapped, he'd inadvertently opened a wound that would never fully heal.

Video footage from the Spanish Super Cup defeat showed further fractures, with Mbappé notably declining to offer Barcelona a guard of honour, his teammates following suit—a telling sign that Alonso had lost the dressing room entirely.

The Verdict

Whether Mourinho's Benfica antics are genuinely calculated or merely speculation remains to be seen. What's certain is that Real Madrid's experiment with Alonso has ended in spectacular fashion, leaving Perez with a squad that's called the shots and an interim manager tasked with salvaging the season. Arbeloa's next six months will prove decisive—but if Perez gets his way, a familiar face in the form of Mourinho could soon be stalking the Bernabéu touchline once more.