Jose Mourinho is reportedly on the verge of a sensational return to Real Madrid, a club in deep crisis. The Portuguese manager, known as much for his controversies as his trophies, has been in talks with club president Florentino Perez for several months. A clause in Mourinho's contract allows him to leave Benfica for £2.5 million shortly after their season ends.
Real Madrid have gone two seasons without silverware, and the dressing room has descended into civil war. Last week, vice-captain Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni were involved in a training ground fight that left Valverde in hospital. Meanwhile, over 70,000 fans have signed a petition demanding the sale of Kylian Mbappe, whose behaviour has been deemed poisonous. Mbappe travelled to Sardinia for a break while supposedly recovering from a hamstring injury.
Perez believes Mourinho can restore order and identity to the club. However, the irony of hiring a man known for lighting fires to put one out is not lost on observers. Mourinho's first spell at Real Madrid ended after less than three seasons, with the club in a toxic state. He started that tenure with a one-match ban after Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos were sent off against Ajax, and later poked then-Barcelona assistant Tito Vilanova in the eye.
Mourinho will also need to mend his broken relationship with star winger Vinicius Junior, which he damaged by suggesting the Brazilian's behaviour had provoked racist abuse from Benfica fans earlier this season. The move is as brave as it is bonkers, and if Mourinho has not learned from the past, history may repeat itself.
