Benfica and Real Madrid’s relationship has rapidly deteriorated over the transfer of Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho it set to swap Portugal for Spain but the deal hit a major snag when Real Madrid president Florentino Perez called last-minute elections.
His consolidation of power bluff was called by challenger Enrique Riquelme, dramatically impacting the status of Mourinho.
Madrid previously could’ve signed Mourinho for just €3million due to a 10-day break clause in his contract, but agreed to pay €7m out of goodwill.
However, that clause ends tomorrow, and Mourinho is unable to sign as Perez has had to step down from his post to re-run.
As such, Mourinho’s contract with Benfica will run into its second year, and Madrid will have to pay more.
Benfica and president Rui Costa are citing a €15m term that will come into play, but Perez won’t pay more.
Now A Bola report that Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes has had to get involved to avoid things spiralling out of control.
Mendes also manages Fulham’s Marco Silva, and has promised the Eagles control over that deal if they agree to accept Madrid’s terms.
The outlet adds that there’s ‘nervousness’ over the Mourinho deal collapsing, and Madrid aren’t willing to pay more, having already increased their payment to €7m, which they already feel was unnecessary.
The deal now hinges on Mendes, who will also help Fulham find a Silva replacement if it improves Benfica’s mood towards losing Mourinho for less.
There’s also the hitch that Perez has to win the Madrid elections on June 7th if he’s to sign Mourinho, but that is seen as a formality against Riquelme given his huge influence in Spain.
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