Real Madrid's management is moving towards finalizing the new head coach file, amid strong nominations bringing a familiar name back to the forefront within the halls of 'Santiago Bernabéu', in light of anticipated changes at the head of the technical staff.

Reports from 'The Athletic' revealed that Portuguese coach José Mourinho is the preferred choice of Real Madrid's president Florentino Pérez to take over the team's technical leadership, succeeding the current coach Álvaro Arbeloa.

Arbeloa took over the task last January, succeeding Xabi Alonso, but current indicators suggest the possibility of his departure at the end of the season, amid the team's declining results and exiting a second consecutive season without achieving major titles.

Reports indicate that Pérez is personally handling the file of choosing the new coach this time, unlike what happened previously when Alonso was appointed.

A potential return for 'The Special One'

Pérez wants to bring Mourinho back to lead the team, as part of a project to rebuild Real Madrid technically, especially since the Portuguese coach previously led the club between 2010 and 2013.

During that period, Mourinho won the La Liga title in the 2011-2012 season, along with three total titles with the team, but he was unable to win the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, despite his success in the tournament with both Porto and Inter Milan.

Despite Pérez's support, Mourinho's option does not have a consensus within Real Madrid's management, as some parties express reservations due to his controversial personality and his previous experience that witnessed tensions within the locker room, most notably his famous conflict with former goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Mourinho also recently faced media criticism following his statements regarding an incident involving player Vinicius Junior during a match against Benfica, which sparked widespread debate about his stance on the issue.

Mourinho is currently coaching Benfica under a contract that extends until June 2027, which includes a release clause allowing the contract to be terminated at the end of the season for about 3 million euros.

At the same time, Real Madrid is considering a number of other options alongside Mourinho, including Mauricio Pochettino, Didier Deschamps, and Jürgen Klopp, as the management searches for a coach capable of leading a new phase within the royal club.