Jose Mourinho determined to sign Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or winner
According to multiple sources in Portugal, coach Jose Mourinho is planning to bring his former pupil Karim Benzema to Benfica.
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The Portuguese coach quickly returned to the sidelines just days after being dismissed by Fenerbahce. Jose Mourinho was appointed head coach of Benfica, marking a new chapter exactly 25 years since he began his coaching career there.
The 61-year-old manager made an impressive debut with a 3-0 victory over AVS last weekend, signing a two-year contract in Lisbon. However, no one is certain how long he will stay, as the agreement includes a clause allowing either party to terminate the contract within 10 days after the season ends.
If this partnership proves successful, Mourinho might stay longer. In fact, bold plans have already been prepared. Presidential candidate Jorge Noronha Lopes has pledged to bring Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva to the club on a free transfer next year. Mourinho himself harbors big ambitions aiming for a sensational signing.
Mourinho aims to reunite with Benzema
According to Ekrem Konur, Mourinho is eager to reunite with Karim Benzema—his former pupil at Real Madrid—whose contract with Al-Ittihad expires next summer. At 37, the French striker continues to perform impressively with 41 goals in 64 matches since joining the Jeddah club in 2023. However, to play for Benfica, he would have to accept a significant salary cut from his current enormous wage.
Mourinho has admitted he could earn more money if he waited until the end of the season for a lucrative offer, but ultimately chose to “follow his heart” by returning to Benfica. Regarding Benzema, the Portuguese coach holds him in high regard. In 2021, he candidly called the striker a “bad boy” due to early challenges at Real Madrid, before affirming that he had become a “legend.”
Mourinho shared: “When Benzema first arrived in Madrid, he was a rebellious boy. He was only 19 when he left Lyon for Real, and it was overwhelming at the time. But Benzema is the type of striker who, even without scoring many goals, plays excellently for the team. Karim truly is an extraordinary player.”
Karim Benzema has left a brilliant mark in Real Madrid’s history with a great 14-year career. Joining the royal club from Lyon in 2009, the French striker became an indispensable figure at Santiago Bernabéu.
He won a total of 25 titles with Real Madrid, including notable achievements such as 5 Champions League titles, 4 La Liga championships, 3 Copa del Rey trophies, and 4 Spanish Super Cups. The peak of Benzema’s career came in 2022, when he excelled with 44 goals across all competitions, playing a key role in Real Madrid’s Champions League and La Liga victories, earning him the Ballon d’Or—a well-deserved reward for his perseverance, resilience, and talent. With 354 goals, Benzema also became the second-highest scorer in Real Madrid’s history, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo.
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