Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is already being linked with a shock move back to Real Madrid, who have struggled under new coach Rafa Benitez.

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Former Real President Predicts Mourinho Reunion

Thursday, Dec. 17

As reported by BBC Radio 5 Live, former Blancos president Ramon Calderon believes Mourinho is already on his way back to the Santiago Bernabeu, despite his ugly split with the Liga giants in 2013.

With Real struggling under Benitez, Calderon believes current Blancos president Florentino Perez could replace the former Liverpool boss with Mourinho, who is still a favourite of his.

Mourinho moved to the Spanish capital in 2010 after a very successful period with Inter Milan, but he failed to make much of an impact with Los Blancos, winning just one La Liga title during his three seasons in charge.

Per ESPN FC’s Graham Hunter, he publicly fell out with club icon Iker Casillas, and he made the headlines for all the wrong reasons on multiple occasions. The most notable incident was perhaps his eye poke of then-Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, for which he was suspended, per the Press Association (for the Independent).

Mourinho left the club in 2013 to return to Chelsea, and his replacement, Carlo Ancelotti, succeeded where he couldn’t, finally winning the club that elusive 10th UEFA Champions League trophy.

Per football writer Graham Ruthven, the Italian could actually be on his way back to Chelsea, which would make for an odd situation:

On the surface, it would make little sense for Mourinho to move back to Spain, as his first spell with Real was not very successful and the controversies he created have not been forgotten.

But as explained by ESPN FC’s Eduardo Alvarez, a significant part of the fanbase still adores the Special One, and he’s still quite popular with certain sections of the media.

Per WhoScored.com, Los Blancos have lost three of their last five La Liga matches under Benitez, including the embarrassing 4-0 defeat at the hands of rivals Barcelona.

Benitez’s position is anything but secure, and with few options currently available on the coaching market, a reunion with Mourinho may not be as far-fetched as it sounds.

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