Jose Mourinho is poised for a remarkable comeback to Real Madrid this summer, as he emerges as the prime candidate favored by the club’s president, Florentino Perez, to take over from Alvaro Arbeloa.

Mourinho, now 63, previously helmed the Spanish giants from 2010 to 2013. During his tenure, he steered the team to significant victories, including a LaLiga title, a Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, cementing his legacy at the club.

Alvaro Arbeloa stepped up from his position with Real Madrid’s B-team to replace Alonso, who was dismissed after just eight months in charge. Under Arbeloa’s leadership, the team has achieved 14 wins, two draws, and seven losses. Despite these efforts, Real Madrid is on the brink of a second consecutive season without silverware, having been ousted from the Champions League by Bayern Munich and losing ground in the LaLiga title race.

Currently, Mourinho is managing Benfica, marking his return to the Portuguese club after 25 years since September. His potential return to Real Madrid is generating considerable excitement and anticipation among fans and analysts alike.

Jose Mourinho is reportedly Florentino Perez’s preference to become Real Madrid manager

Mourinho previously coached Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, with his side facing off against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona for major honours

Arbeloa has overseen 14 wins, two draws and seven defeats to date, with Real Madrid set for a second successive trophyless season after their Champions League exit to Bayern Munich and having fallen off the pace in LaLiga.

Mourinho is currently in charge of Benfica, having returned to the Portuguese giants after 25 years back in September.

Benfica are unbeaten in the league since Mourinho’s return, but his side are seven points adrift of leaders Porto.

Reports have claimed Real Madrid would have to pay £2.6million to activate a release clause in Mourinho’s Benfica contract, which runs until the summer of 2027. 

Daily Mail Sport understands Benfica are yet to have any contact from Real Madrid over an approach for Mourinho –  but that he would be keen on a return. However, the club are understood to be wary of a negative reaction from fans should he take charge again, not least after the fallout from the sides’ Champions League clash in February.

Mourinho’s side memorably beat Real Madrid 4-2 in the final game of the league phase of the Champions League, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s 98th minute goal seeing the Portuguese team earn a place in the play-offs. 

The two sides met again in the last-16, with the first leg overshadowed by the allegation that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni had racially abused Vinicius Jr.

Vinicius Jr accused Prestianni of racially abusing him while covering his mouth with his shirt moments after he put the visitors in the lead in Lisbon.

The Brazilian alerted referee Francois Letexier of the incident, claiming that the 20-year-old had called him a ‘monkey’. His team-mate, Kylian Mbappe, who was in close vicinity of the exchange, corroborated his claim.

Prestianni was handed a provisional one-match ban by UEFA for the reverse fixture.

Mourinho caused controversy earlier this year for his response to Vinicius Jr’s allegation that he had been racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni in their Champions League match

The 63-year-old would be tasked with bringing silverware back to Real Madrid if appointed

Mourinho caused further controversy by initially suggesting that Vinicius Jr may have ‘incited’ the crowd with his celebration after scoring, though he didn’t comment on his interaction with Prestianni. He later vowed that if Prestianni was found to have been racist he would be kicked out of the club.

The Portuguese manager said: ‘If my player did not respect these principles, which are mine and Benfica’s as well, then that player’s career with a coach named Jose Mourinho and at a club named Benfica will come to an end.

‘I am not a scholar, but I am not ignorant either. The presumption of innocence is a human right, isn’t it?

‘I stand by my opinion. If the player is indeed guilty, I will never look at him the way I looked at him before, and with me, it’s over. But I have to put many “ifs” in front of it.’

Last week, Prestianni was given a six-game suspension for homophobic conduct towards Vinicius Jr.

Three of these matches are subject to ‘a probationary period of two years’ and includes the one-match provisional suspension already served by Prestianni. UEFA have also requested FIFA to extend the suspension ‘worldwide’.

In the days that followed the incident, Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni told the media that the Benfica midfielder claimed he did not aim a racist slur at Vinicius Jr, but made a homophobic remark instead.

Vinicius Jr’s future at Real Madrid is currently uncertain, with the Brazilian set to enter the final year of his contract which expires in the summer of 2027. 

Mourinho notably had a high-profile falling out with Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas during his time as manager

Casillas reacted to reports of Mourinho’s potential return with three popcorn emojis

Mourinho’s three-year spell as Real Madrid boss included a high-profile falling out with the club’s legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

The long-serving shot-stopper was dropped in favour of Diego Lopez, before Mourinho was ousted in 2013. 

Casillas has since suggested Mourinho’s off-field antics, including poking former Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova in the eye, proved a key factor in their clash.

He suggested his efforts to smooth over the situation with his Spanish international team-mates at Barcelona had contributed to Mourinho dropping him from the team.

Casillas, who previously revealed Mourinho was among the first to call him after he suffered a heart attack in 2019, shared several popcorn emojis on social media after reports his former boss could be set for a return to Real Madrid.