Jose Mourinho is on the verge of returning to Real Madrid as their permanent head coach, with final negotiations reportedly underway. According to BBC Sport, the Portuguese manager is the clear frontrunner for the role and is the only candidate currently in discussions to take over the Spanish giants on a permanent basis.
Mourinho, who currently manages Benfica, has been identified by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as the ideal candidate to lead the club. The report states that Perez first considered a Mourinho return just two days after the sacking of Xabi Alonso back in January.
Since Alonso's departure, club legend Alvaro Arbeloa has been overseeing the first team. However, Real Madrid have endured a challenging season, culminating in a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Barcelona this weekend, which saw their arch-rivals clinch the La Liga title.
The build-up to El Clasico was overshadowed by a training ground incident between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, which resulted in Valverde requiring hospital treatment.
Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, winning the La Liga title in 2012, along with the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. His return would mark a significant move for both the club and the manager, who has also enjoyed success at Chelsea, Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Roma.
Further updates on this developing story are expected shortly.
