This delay has proved to be an expensive one for the Spanish giants. A specific window that allowed Real Madrid to trigger a cut-price €7 million exit fee officially expired on Tuesday, May 26. Consequently, interested parties must now pay a significantly higher sum to pry the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss away from Lisbon.
With the deadline passed, Mourinho's release clause at Benfica jumps to €15m. This development has handed Benfica president Rui Costa a much stronger hand in negotiations, as the Portuguese club can now demand the full amount or force Los Blancos into direct and difficult negotiations to find a compromise.