Jose Mourinho Makes Feelings Clear On Replacing Xabi Alonso At Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho has made no secret of his stance regarding a potential return to Real Madrid following Xabi Alonso's dismissal.

Alonso only returned to Los Blancos as manager in the summer after a successful, trophy-laden spell with Bayer Leverkusen, who he led to a historic, unbeaten Bundesliga title win.

He replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the helm but only lasted 34 games in the job, with Real announcing he had left via mutual consent in a club statement.

The 15-time European champions confirmed former defender Alvaro Arbeloa as Alonso's replacement - with the Spaniard making the step up from the club's Castilla outfit after a long stint in the academy set-up.

Arbeloa's first game was a shock 3-2 defeat to second-tier outfit Albacete and it remains to be seen whether Real will look for a new permanent boss in the summer.

Already there have been links to ex manager Mourinho, with COPE journalist Alfredo Relano claiming that 'the Special One' is Florentino Perez's first choice for the Santiago Bernabeu hotseat.

Mourinho was Real manager for three years. Image: Getty

The journalist claims Perez's "ultimate goal" is to bring Mourinho back for a second spell, having won La Liga and the Copa Del Rey in a three-year stint between 2010 and 2013.

Mourinho went on to manage Chelsea for a second time and is now back at Benfica in a repeat of his first managerial job.

It's said he is "currently causing a stir at Benfica" in the hope of going back to Real.

The 62-year-old has always spoken positively about his former employers and in 2019, after calling Real "the iconic club", he said he would have "no problem" returning.

Speaking on beIN Sports, Mourinho said: "To a club that I have been before? If I think the right club, the right structure, the right ambitions, I will have no problem at all. I think it’s really a reason of pride when a club where you worked before wanting you back.”

Arbeloa lost his first game in charge to second tier side Albacete. Image: Getty

More recently, in 2024 when in charge of Fenerbahce, Mourinho again refused to rule out a return to the Spanish capital.

With Ancelotti still managing Real at the time, Mourinho mentioned Alonso and Arbeloa as possible options should Real want a young coach.

"I'll always be a big fan of Real Madrid," Mourinho told Cadena Ser, as per ESPN.

"They have the best coach in the world, my friend Carlo [Ancelotti]. He's doing very well. The future depends on what the president [Florentino Perez] wants, if he wants a young coach with a big projection as Xabi [Alonso] or continue in the same line as Carlo, a coach with experience, or look at the youth section [Madrid reserves coach] with Raul or [Madrid youth team coach Alvaro] Arbeloa. It depends."

Mourinho will a swift reunion of sorts with Real in the near future as his Benfica side travel to the Bernabeu for a Champions League final league phase clash.