Bitter evening for Benfica. The Lisbonites certainly finished the championship with the status of undefeated, therefore not having lost a single match… But that is not enough to qualify for the Champions League, with this third place in the Lusitanian championship standings. The Eagles will therefore compete in the Europa League next season. With a huge question, obviously: will José Mourinho still be on the sidelines at the Estádio da Luz?
The Portuguese tactician is coveted by Real Madrid, who want to bring him back to bring some order to a very complicated locker room. For the Spanish media, there is no doubt: he is the management’s big favorite. And the trend is rather towards optimism in Madrid, where we are convinced that he will make his return to the Bernabéu, 13 years after his departure. Benfica has even already found a replacement for him: Marco Silva. And Saturday evening, after his team’s meeting, the Special One responded to the rumors.
He confirms discussions between Mendes and Real Madrid
A speech that is logically highly anticipated and commented on, but with somewhat paradoxical speeches… “There is a 99% chance that I will stay at Benfica, because I have a contract with the club, and on top of that I have an extension offer which I have not yet seen, but my agent told me that it is good”he started first, in comments that were a priori rather reassuring for Benfica… Before moving on to Real Madrid, confirming contacts with the Merengues for the first time: “I haven’t spoken with Real Madrid yet, but I’m not going to take you for idiots, there are conversations between Jorge Mendes, the president and management”.
He then made comments that were a little less clear than at the start about his future at Benfica. “Stay at Benfica? I don’t know, when I find out, I’ll say it. The possibility of continuing exists yes. I’ll see next week. (…) Things are happening behind the scenes yes, but there is nothing signed, I have not spoken to Real Madrid. Is it possible to say no to Real Madrid? It all depends on the offer, what they expect from me? We don’t talk about money. But to know if I am in the conditions to do what they expect of me, what they propose in terms of the work to be done. I want to have time to analyze, think and decide. Tomorrow I will wake up as Benfica coach. Monday, we will see »explained the Portuguese. We will therefore have to wait a few days to find out…
