What happened: José Mourinho confirmed Benfica delivered a new contract proposal on Wednesday, but he told the club 'not now,' pointing to Sunday and the following week as decisive for his future. The comments land alongside reporting that his return to Real Madrid is advancing with direct contacts at final stages.

Why it matters: Mourinho's public stall is the clearest signal yet that the Madrid track is real, not noise, and it puts Benfica in the awkward position of negotiating against a rival that already has his attention. For Madrid, locking in a manager mid-May would reshape the summer window and the dressing-room hierarchy heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

What to watch: Watch Sunday's window Mourinho flagged himself, and any follow-up from Fabrizio Romano or Correio da Manhã confirming the announcement timing. A Benfica statement or a Madrid-side leak would tip the next 48 hours.