Jose Mourinho will be Real Madrid’s new manager if Florentino Perez is re-elected as club president this weekend.
Members will vote between Perez, 79, and Enrique Riquelme, 37, to lead the club forward, with both candidates making various promises if they are to hold the role.
Perez, who has been at Madrid since 2009, has moved to appoint Mourinho for a second stint in charge, after the Portuguese led Los Blancos between 2010 and 2013.
His official campaign social media pages posted a video on Wednesday night captioned: ‘So much history to make.’ It featured the words: ‘While on TV they talk, and talk, and talk…’ and then saw Mourinho appear as he said, in Spanish: ‘Yes.’
Mourinho’s contract is believed to run until the summer of 2028, and will include an option to extend by a further year.
The 63-year-old, who hasn’t won a league title in 11 years, steps into a crisis club after a season clouded by in-fighting between players, an early Champions League exit, and Barcelona steaming to the LaLiga title.
Jose Mourinho (right) will be the new Real Madrid manager if Florentino Perez (left) is re-elected as president
Mourinho appeared in an official campaign video of Perez, wearing a Real Madrid shirt
Perez, who has remained good friends with Mourinho since his Bernabeu exit, has promised to announce his side’s first ‘big signing’ on Thursday.
Former Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, as well as Dutch right back Denzel Dumfries, are expected to join.
Perez has faced no competition in the last five rounds of elections at Madrid, but he is up against renewable energy entrepreneur Riquelme this time around.
Riquelme, who is 42 years younger than his competitor, has promised to make Madrid legend Raul his sporting director if he is elected, while he has not made clear who his manager would be, but he said: ‘If I win the elections, I will bring to Real Madrid a superstar manager. The biggest manager you can imagine.
‘Jose Mourinho is not our manager. We will get the one all Real Madrid fans really want.’
He has also promised to sign Spain star and current Manchester City midfielder Rodri, as well as City star Erling Haaland – before holding up a shirt with Haaland’s name on. The election will take place on Sunday.
He faces a tough task if he is to take the reins, though, with Perez the heavy favourite to come out as the victor.
Mourinho is contracted at Benfica for another year and as his release clause has expired, it will cost Madrid upwards of £12million in compensation to sign him, according to Portuguese reports.
Los Blancos are on the verge of confirming the signing of former Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate (pictured)
It is set to be a summer of upheaval at the Santiago Bernabeu and Mourinho will not be able to rely on the help of Alvaro Arbeloa.
Arbeloa, who has managed the team since January, confirmed he will not stay to work under the Portuguese.
‘Mourinho has a fantastic coaching staff; he’s surrounded by great people. If he comes, he’ll bring his own team, as he should. There’s no chance I’ll be joining him.
‘I’ve spent the last four months thinking about Madrid. From now on, it’s time to think about myself. I’ve taken the leap, and I feel ready for new challenges.’
Konate, meanwhile, revealed his Liverpool exit earlier this week after his contract expired.
It had been reported that progress had been made in contract discussions, but any talks soon collapsed and he departed on a free transfer.
