José Mourinho has stopped short of guaranteeing he will remain Benfica manager beyond the current campaign. When asked if he would still be in charge of the Portuguese record champions for the 2026/27 season, he replied: "I can't say. How can I confirm something like that? It doesn't just depend on me."
He added, "A manager is part of a club's structure, just like any other staff member or a journalist in an editorial office. You're a journalist at 'A Bola'. Can you guarantee you'll still be there in ten years' time? Maybe you want to, but you can't." Mourinho's conclusion was blunt: "Of course I can't guarantee anything," though he stressed, "There's nothing from Real Madrid!"
According toThe Athletic, Mourinho has a €3 million release clause in his contract, which runs until 2027—a fee Real Madrid could activate with ease.