Benfica's Mourinho says no contact with Real Madrid

AFP
By AFP May 01, 2026 07:30 (EAT)
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Benfica's Mourinho says no contact with Real Madrid

Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho runs on to the pitch to retrieve loose ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) Related content Photos fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder #41 Estevao runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica German referee Daniel Siebert shows a yellow card to Benfica's Argentinian defender #30 Nicolas Otamendi (unseen) during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Bosnian defender #17 Amar Dedic runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Croatian forward #09 Franjo Ivanovic (L) listens to instructions from Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho before being substituted on during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho gestures during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios (R) vies with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Robert Sanchez reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios reacts after scoring an own goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios scores an own goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's French defender #27 Malo Gusto (L) vies with Benfica's Ukrainian midfielder #10 Heorhiy Sudakov during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (L) falls on Benfica's Swedish defender #26 Samuel Dahl during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Spanish defender #03 Marc Cucurella (R) clears the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Swedish defender #26 Samuel Dahl (C) clears the ball from the feet of Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Argentinian midfielder #05 Enzo Barrenechea (R) vies with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #40 Facundo Buonanotte during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Argentinian defender #30 Nicolas Otamendi controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez (L) vies with Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Bosnian defender #17 Amar Dedic falls over the barrier during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Ecuadorian midfielder #25 Moises Caicedo (R) chases down Benfica's Belgian midfielder #11 Dodi Lukébakio during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's French defender #27 Malo Gusto (L) and Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) vie with Benfica's Ukrainian midfielder #10 Heorhiy Sudakov during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica The fourth official asks Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho to return to his own technical area during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica The fourth official asks Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho to return to his own technical area during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Police officers stand on duty above a merchandise stall ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica A Deliveroo cycle rider passes Benfica fans stood outside an Italian restaurant ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (C) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho embraces a long-time Chelsea employee as he leaves after a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho embraces a long-time Chelsea employee as he leaves after a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge, as a photo of him as Chelsea's former manager holding a trophy, hangs on a wall, in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge, as a photo of him as Chelsea's former manager holding a trophy, hangs on a wall, in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser A Sky Sports reporter speaks into the camera as they work beside a photo of Chelsea's former Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho, ahead of a Benfica press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's English defender #24 Reece James (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's French defender #05 Benoit Badiashile (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca takes a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro (C) and teammates take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #19 Alejandro Garnacho takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto, Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez and Chelsea's English defender #24 Reece James take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea players take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto reacts during a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser Beside a photo of Jose Mourinho, Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca speaks at a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - bodoe glimt - tottenham topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's Gabonese forward #97 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2ndL) shoots to score past Ajax's Czech goalkeeper #01 Vitezslav Jaros during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's Brazilian forward #14 Igor Paixao celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's French defender #28 Benjamin Pavard (L) and Ajax's Belgian forward #11 Mika Godts fight for the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's players including Marseille's English defender #04 Conrad Jaden Egan-Riley, Marseille's US forward #22 Timothy Weah, Marseille's Belgian goalkeeper #40 Jelle Van Neck, Marseille's Brazilian forward #14 Igor Paixao and Marseille's Italian defender #33 Emerson Palmieri celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025.

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Benfica coach Jose Mourinho said Friday there has been no contact between him and Real Madrid, despite speculation the Spanish giants could turn to him this summer.

The veteran Portuguese coach, who led Los Blancos from 2010 to 2013 in a heated rivalry with Pep Guardiola's Barca, is reported to be on Madrid's shortlist for a new coach.

Current Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa seems set to be replaced with the team heading for a second consecutive season without a major trophy.

"No one from Real Madrid has spoken to me. I can guarantee that," Mourinho, 63, told reporters.

"I've been in football for so many years and I'm used to these things... but there's nothing from Real Madrid," added Mourinho, who guided Real to the 2012 La Liga title.

Madrid president Florentino Perez appointed Arbeloa in January to replace Xabi Alonso, who lasted just a few months at the helm.

Real Madrid trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by 11 points with five matches remaining and were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

"I have a year to go on my Benfica contract, and that's all," added Mourinho, whose side were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in the play-off round in February.

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