Benfica charges millionaire fine to release Mourinho to Real Madrid

Benfica reported this Thursday (4) that a possible signing of José Mourinho by Real Madrid will depend on the payment of the termination fine provided for in the contract, set at 15 million euros (around R$94 million).

The Portuguese club's demonstration occurred after statements by Florentino Pérez, who stated that he intended to hire Mourinho if he is re-elected president of the Spanish club in the vote scheduled for June 7th.

In a statement sent to the Portuguese financial market regulatory authority, Benfica highlighted that the Portuguese coach has a contract valid until June 2027.

"If this scenario materializes, the contract can only occur upon payment of 15 million euros, an amount corresponding to the termination clause present in the current sports employment contract", informed the club.

Mourinho had previously revealed that he received a contract renewal proposal from Benfica.

Earlier, in an interview with Spanish newspaper AS, Pérez stated that Mourinho and French defender Ibrahima Konaté would be his first signings in the event of Real Madrid's victory in the presidential election.

The director is competing for command of the club with Enrique Riquelme, in an election that marks the first presidential contest at Real Madrid in two decades.

Mourinho's possible return comes after a frustrating season for the Merengue club. FC Barcelona won their second national championship, while Real Madrid were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the second year in a row.

The biggest champion of the Champions League, with 15 titles, Real is looking to regain its protagonism after two seasons without major achievements, a scenario that led Pérez to call for new elections.

Throughout his career, Mourinho has managed clubs such as Chelsea FC, Manchester United FC, AS Roma, Fenerbahçe SK and, most recently, SL Benfica.

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Source: CNN