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Benfica head coach José Mourinho has on Wednesday spoken out on the mounting speculation linking him with a return to La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid.
The name of Portuguese tactician Mourinho has of course emerged as a prominent one in the headlines across Spain over the last 48 hours.
This comes amid the understanding that, amid an ongoing search for a long-term replacement for Álvaro Arbeloa, the 63-year-old has been earmarked as a frontrunner on the part of Florentino Pérez and co.
Mourinho is currently plying his managerial trade in his home country, with the aforementioned Benfica.
The one-time Chelsea and Porto headmaster’s contract in Lisbon is reported to [contain a release clause](https://x.com/David_Ornstein/status/2049092575076684057), which Real Madrid could activate ahead of the summer.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of a potential Blancos reunion was put to Mourinho himself.
The iconic coach, though, made use of the opportunity to play the links down, assuring:
“My next goal is to get Benfica to the Champions League. If we win the next three matches, we’ll play in Europe’s biggest competition. That’s the only thing on my mind.”
> 🚨 José Mourinho when asked about Real Madrid: “My next goal is to get Benfica to the Champions League”.
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> “If we win the next three matches, we’ll play in Europe’s biggest competition. That’s the only thing on my mind”. [pic.twitter.com/t9ymzIEq8g](https://t.co/t9ymzIEq8g)