Benfica Backs Florentino

Rarely, if ever, have elections at a foreign club held such significance in Portugal as tomorrow's Real Madrid presidential vote.

Should Florentino Pérez win, he has pledged to bring in José Mourinho, paying the coach's €15 million release clause. If Pérez loses, Benfica faces a significant dilemma: two coaches – one with one foot out the door, the other with one foot in – and no clear path to move one aside (the World Cup is too late for the national team to offer a solution) to make way for the other.

As sports law specialist Gonçalo Almeida pointed out to A BOLA, nothing in the current situation provides grounds for Benfica to terminate Mourinho's contract for just cause or demand compensation, even if his move to Real doesn't materialize.

The existing release clause in Mourinho's contract permits him to engage in discussions with other clubs regarding a potential departure. Theoretically, Benfica only needs to be informed when a club arrives with the payment – much like Sporting president Frederico Varandas stated about Luis Suárez, who was also an electoral trump card, but in Turkey, during the Fenerbahçe elections. This context makes the alleged dissatisfaction of the CMVM (Portuguese Securities Market Commission) with Benfica's SAD nonsensical. Until Wednesday night, when Florentino Pérez finally confirmed José Mourinho would be his coach if re-elected, what could Benfica have said? That they had read reports of the coach's potential departure and, as a precaution, began planning for a possible succession?

With their hands tied, Benfica waits in anticipation. However, if they could vote in tomorrow's elections, they would unequivocally cast their ballot for Florentino Pérez. And it's not just for the €15 million (which, undoubtedly, would be a welcome boost, especially after failing to qualify for the Champions League) that Real would deposit into their coffers if they secure the coach. The alternative scenario – Mourinho remaining at the Estádio da Luz – is currently unthinkable.

Even if the 'Special One's' negotiations with Real don't constitute grounds for a just cause termination, they clearly indicate that Mourinho doesn't see his future at Benfica. This is legitimate, of course, but likely irreversible. Within the Eagles' SAD, there's no other option but to move forward with Marco Silva. And to cross their fingers for a Florentino victory. If he doesn't win... well, they'll deal with that when it comes. But Mourinho cannot return to coach the Reds.