Benfica star hoping 'formidable' Jose Mourinho snubs Real Madrid return

Benfica star desperate for Mourinho stay

Rios has been revitalised under the veteran coach's tutelage and believes his departure would be a significant blow to the Portuguese giants' ambitions. The midfielder's public plea highlights the impact the 63-year-old has had since returning to the club where he first made his mark decades ago.

Asked if he sees Mourinho returning to Madrid this summer, Rios told

Perez driving pursuit of former boss

Despite the affection from his current squad, the lure of Madrid remains a constant shadow over Mourinho’s tenure at the Estadio da Luz. Reports suggest that

Mourinho breaks silence on future

The man himself has remained characteristically coy when faced with questions regarding his future, though he has recently dropped hints about his short-term objectives. He currently has a contract with Benfica that runs until June 2027.

Addressing his immediate goals,

A legacy already written in Madrid

The links to the Bernabeu are unsurprising given Mourinho’s history with the Spanish giants. During his original three-year tenure between 2010 and 2013, he famously broke Barcelona’s dominance to guide Madrid to a La Liga title with a record 100 points, as well as lifting the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercup. If Perez does come calling, the lure of the Bernabeu might be hard to resist, but the voices from within the Benfica squad are making it clear that they are not ready to say goodbye to their leader just yet.