The Special One is coming back — but on his own terms. Every single one of them.
A Club in Crisis, A Manager With a Plan
Real Madrid are in freefall.
After parting ways with Xabi Alonso just months into his tenure, then promoting reserve-team coach Álvaro Arbeloa as a stopgap, Los Blancos are set to end the season without a major trophy for the second year in a row — a staggering collapse for a club of their stature. SPORTbible
With Barcelona on the verge of clinching La Liga and Real’s dressing room plagued by fights and internal unrest, Florentino Pérez has accelerated his pursuit of the one man he believes can restore order to the Santiago Bernabéu: José Mourinho. Goal.com
The Portuguese mastermind, currently steering Benfica in Lisbon, is reportedly the frontrunner to take charge this summer. But as anyone familiar with Mourinho knows — he doesn’t walk through the door quietly.
The Videoconference That Changed Everything
The wheels began turning in the first week of May.
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez held a videoconference with Mourinho on May 5, with the manager’s long-term agent Jorge Mendes also on the line. The agenda: a potential return starting June 30, 2026. Morocco World News
But Mourinho didn’t just say yes. True to form, the 63-year-old presented a list of demands functioning as an indivisible block — accept them all, or the project simply doesn’t happen. There is no room for negotiation. Morocco World News
This is the Mourinho method — ruthless clarity before a single training session begins.
The Non-Negotiables: Control, Structure, and Accountability
Full Sporting Authority
At the heart of Mourinho’s demands is total control over first-team operations.
According to Diario AS, Mourinho wants a significant say over which positions are strengthened in the transfer window, and he wants the power to impose discipline on players without his authority being questioned. Football España
His current assessment is that the squad is unbalanced in several key areas — a diagnosis he performed before any formal agreement was reached. During his first spell at Madrid, he shaped the squad’s DNA by pushing for the arrivals of Luka Modrić, Mesut Özil, and Sami Khedira. He expects the same latitude again. Goal.com
Zero Tolerance for Dressing Room Interference
Mourinho made it clear he will not accept interference from the squad regarding his selection decisions and will not budge from this stance — described by sources as “absolutely uncompromising.” SPORTbible
He will not tolerate any player, regardless of status or reputation, who refuses to run or commit to his tactical duties — a pointed message aimed directly at a dressing room that has run amok in recent months. Morocco World News
His Coaching Staff, His Way
Mourinho wants to bring his entire coaching staff from Benfica. He did not object to Arbeloa remaining in some capacity, but one departure is non-negotiable: current fitness coach Antonio Pintus must go — Mourinho views the team’s recent injury record as unacceptable for a club of Real Madrid’s level. SPORTbibleSPORTbible
According to COPE, Mourinho also wants a former Real Madrid player embedded in his backroom team, with Toni Kroos emerging as a potential candidate for a role alongside the new coaching setup. Tribuna.com
The Transfer Target: Morten Hjulmand
Beyond structural demands, Mourinho has already identified his priority signing.
According to COPE’s Miguel Ángel Díaz, Mourinho has specifically requested the signing of Sporting CP’s Danish midfielder Morten Hjulmand, with the player potentially available for around €50 million. Managing Madrid
Mourinho believes Hjulmand — known for his tempo control, passing intelligence, and ball-winning ability — is the missing piece in Real Madrid’s current midfield. Tribuna.com
It’s a move that raises eyebrows. At 27 this summer, Hjulmand wouldn’t traditionally fit Real Madrid’s transfer policy of targeting younger players — but Mourinho isn’t building for the long term here. He’s building for now. Managing Madrid
The Dane has previously attracted interest from Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. He has two years remaining on his Sporting CP contract, which puts the club in a position to either accept an offer or negotiate an extension. Real Madrid will need to move quickly. Yahoo Sports
The Contract: Two Years, With a Championship Bonus
According to AS, Mourinho’s contract will run for two years, with an automatic one-year extension built in if he wins La Liga. Managing Madrid
Real Madrid are prepared to pay a €6 million buyout clause to release him from Benfica, and the announcement is not expected to be made official until Florentino Pérez is formally re-elected as club president. Managing Madrid
What This Means for Real Madrid
This isn’t just a managerial appointment — it’s a statement.
Even outgoing coach Álvaro Arbeloa, in a remarkable show of class, publicly backed Mourinho’s return: “For me, as his player but above all as a Madridista, José has been, is, and will always be one of us.” Sports Illustrated
The task ahead mirrors what Mourinho faced when he first arrived in 2010 — a club without direction, staring at trophyless seasons, needing a hard reset. He delivered then. Now, with the Bernabéu in turmoil and Barcelona dominant, the question isn’t whether Mourinho will impose his iron will.
It’s whether Real Madrid’s stars are ready to submit to it.
Sources: Diario AS, Marca, COPE (Miguel Ángel Díaz), Fabrizio Romano, Goal.com, Managing Madrid