Benfica have planned all eventualities for Jose Mourinho’s end of season coaching decision.
The Eagles want to keep the two-time Champions League winner, but are aware they’re likely fighting a losing battle after Real Madrid president Florentino Perez made him first choice for next season.
As such, Benfica have upped a buyout clause in Mourinho’s current two-year contract.
He was previously reported to be available this summer for just €3million, but president Rui Costa has managed to agree an upgrade to €7m.
This is the final compensation amount should any team decide to make a deal with Mourinho in the 10 day window he’s allowed to speak to other clubs after the season ends.
In that window Mourinho will also decide on Benfica’s offer, with Record stating that Costa has put a new deal on the table.
Yet Mourinho continues to make it clear that he will only make a final decision after the season finale against Estoril on Saturday.
Mourinho to decide his future next week
Asked if he still wanted a new deal, as he said he did on March 1st, he responded: “No. Because March 1st is March 1st.
“The last week of the championship isn’t for thinking about the future, about contracts, it’s for thinking about the mission we had, which was to perform a miracle.
“I think you understand what I mean by miracle. From the moment we entered this final phase, I decided I didn’t want to listen to anyone, that I wanted to be ‘isolated’ in my workspace.
“As I said a couple of weeks ago, there’s a game against Estoril, and from Monday I’ll be able to answer what my future as a coach and the future of Benfica will be.”
That match could easily swing things for Mourinho as he’s set to guide Benfica out of next season’s Champions League unless they win and Sporting lose.
Asked if Europe impacts his decision, he responded: “No. I’m talking about Benfica, you’re talking about Real.
“The work we’ve done, for me, won’t change whether we finish second or third. That’s not what will influence things.
“Of course, Benfica wants to play in the Champions League, and I prefer that too, but it doesn’t matter.”
Finally, he was asked if the supporters deserve more transparancy from him.
“Of course, it’s up to me to give the answer,” he said.
“Have you ever seen me hide my decisions? Now, nobody can force me to communicate decisions because I’m the one who decides when.
“I’m not in a position to answer you. In my mind, since the discussion of possibilities began, there was only winning and doing my best.
“The respect that Benfica deserves, that my profession deserves. Let nobody touch that, unless it’s some idiot who does. Let nobody touch that.
“I have the right to isolate myself. I didn’t speak to anyone from another club. I didn’t speak to anyone from any club. It didn’t make sense to do anything other than concentrate. It doesn’t sound like a farewell, it sounds like the respect I have for them.
“I’ve already experienced in Rome starting a season with a suspension from a previous season. It’s not a good situation. It’s not good. For me and for my club, calm down. Only one week left…”
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