The corridors of the Santiago Bernabeu are buzzing once again with the unmistakable scent of a homecoming. Jose Mourinho, the self styled Special One...
The corridors of the Santiago Bernabeu are buzzing once again with the unmistakable scent of a homecoming. Jose Mourinho, the self styled Special One who once ruled the Spanish capital with an iron fist, has emerged as the clear favourite to take charge of Real Madrid for a second spell at the end of the current campaign. Sources close to the club have informed GoalZaza that the powers that be at the Bernabeu, led by the formidable Florentino Perez, are ready to bring the Portuguese tactician back to the bench where he left an indelible mark. Mourinho, who left the club in 2013 after a trophy laden three year stint that included a La Liga title, is currently navigating his duties at Benfica in Portugal, where he still has one year remaining on his contract. However, with the Benfica board reportedly open to negotiations and the lure of the Madrid job proving too strong to resist, the 61 year old manager is said to be giving serious thought to the prospect of walking through the tunnel at the Bernabeu once more. It is understood that Alvaro Arbeloa, the current interim manager, will be relieved of his duties at the conclusion of the season, paving the way for Mourinho. �s grand return. In the scheme of things, this development represents a massive power shift in European football. Madridistas who remember the bristling intensity of Mourinho. �s first reign will be divided, but Florentino Perez has never been a man to shy away from a dramatic gamble. The lion. �s share of the credit for this move goes to the president himself, who has always held the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss in high regard despite the acrimonious nature of their earlier parting. The Benfica manager. �s ability to grind out results, his tactical discipline, and his no nonsense approach are precisely the qualities Perez craves to restore order after a season of inconsistency. The news has not escaped the attention of Nigerian football fans, many of whom remain loyal followers of Real Madrid. In viewing centres across Lagos and Abuja, the chatter is already electric. At the popular De Choice Centre in Surulere, supporters burst into animated debates as the GoalZaza exclusive was shared on their phones. Some shouted that Mourinho is the only man who can tame the egos in the dressing room, while others argued that his time has passed. But one thing is certain, in every corner of the country where La Liga is watched with passion, the name Jose Mourinho has reignited hope that the White House will roar again sooner rather than later.
