Real Madrid are reportedly preparing to trigger a release clause linked to José Mourinho, with the payment expected to be made to Benfica next week. The development is described as a sharp and time-sensitive change from a lower figure that was allegedly in place just a week earlier.
According to the news report, the clause Real Madrid will pay is €15 million. The situation is made more notable by the claim that the same clause was previously set at €7 million last week. In other words, the cost of activating the clause has effectively doubled over a short period, driven by external timing circumstances rather than a change in Real Madrid’s intentions.
The report attributes the increase in the release-clause figure to delays caused by elections. While details of which elections are involved are not expanded upon in the text, the key point is that the electoral process created a postponement that impacted the contractual timeline. Because of that delay, the clause at the earlier rate (the €7 million amount) is said to have expired. Once that expiration occurred, Real Madrid would no longer be able to trigger the deal at the lower price.
With the earlier window closed, the report states that Real Madrid will instead pay the higher €15 million clause next week. This suggests that the club is moving forward with the plan despite the increased cost, implying that their priority remains the same: securing Mourinho under the updated contractual conditions tied to the Benfica arrangement.
The news item is framed as a breaking update and emphasizes the practical and financial consequences of the timeline shift. It highlights how administrative or political events, such as election delays, can directly affect sports contracts in European football, where release clauses and trigger windows often depend on specific dates. The report essentially portrays the increased payment as an outcome of timing rather than negotiation results.
The core of the story is also about how contract mechanics can change quickly. Release clauses typically exist to give clubs or individuals a clear option, but they may include conditions and deadlines. In this case, the claim is that those deadlines aligned such that Real Madrid could have triggered at €7 million before the elections-related delay. Once the delay extended the process past the relevant date, the clause is said to have expired, and the price reverted or moved to a higher level.
Although the report does not detail the broader negotiations between Real Madrid, Benfica, or any intermediary parties, it clearly indicates that Real Madrid have informed Benfica of their intention to pay the higher amount. This kind of communication typically signals a formal step toward activating the clause, making the story more than mere speculation about interest.
The mention of “next week” points to the expected timing for the payment, implying that the process is likely already underway at an administrative level. If accurate, this would mean Mourinho’s situation with the Portuguese club would move toward resolution quickly, depending on how Benfica handles clause triggers and the sequence of steps required for the contract transfer.
The report also reflects the competitive nature of major clubs when pursuing high-profile managers. Mourinho is one of the most recognizable coaching names in modern football, and a clause-triggering action at such a cost would indicate the seriousness of Real Madrid’s intentions. The fact that the club is reportedly willing to pay double the earlier price underscores the perceived value they attach to securing him.
In summary, the story claims Real Madrid have notified Benfica that they will pay Mourinho’s €15 million release clause next week. It further claims the clause was €7 million only a week earlier, but that elections caused a delay that led to the lower figure’s expiration, forcing Real Madrid to meet the higher amount. Source: @Record_Portugal.
Madrid Zone: 🚨 BREAKING: Real Madrid have just informed Benfica that they will pay José Mourinho’s €15M release clause NEXT WEEK. The clause was only €7M last week, but the elections caused a delay, which caused the clause to expire, so now Real Madrid will pay €15M. @Record_Portugal. #breaking
— @theMadridZone May 1, 2026
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