Mourinho says hewill not extend his Benfica contract as he weighs interest from Madrid.

Jose Mourinho has intensified rumours that he could return to Real Madrid after stating he is no longer concentrating on extending his contract with Benfica.

The Portuguese coach looked emotional following Benfica’s 2‑2 draw with Braga on Monday, and his remarks were widely read as a possible farewell to the squad before the season’s final match.

In March, Mourinho had declared he was prepared to sign a new two‑year contract without hesitation. His most recent comments, however, indicate a change in stance as speculation about interest from Real Madrid continues to mount.

Mourinho distances himself from Benfica extension

After the draw, Mourinho said that conversations about his future had been set aside during Benfica’s closing stretch.

Jose Mourinho – Getty image

“No. Because March 1st is March 1st,” Mourinho replied when asked whether his earlier commitment to renew was still valid.

“The last week of the championship is not for thinking about the future, it’s not for thinking about contracts. It’s for thinking about the mission we had.”

The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager added that he deliberately isolated himself from transfer speculation to give his full attention to Benfica’s campaign.

“I decided that I didn’t want to listen to anyone. I wanted to be isolated in my workspace,” he explained.

Mourinho also stressed that he has not spoken to any other club despite ongoing reports linking him with a second spell at Madrid.

“I continue to say that I haven’t spoken to anyone from another club,” he said. “Now there’s talk of Real Madrid, but it could be any other club.”

Emotional comments fuel farewell talk

The 63‑year‑old also paid tribute to his players, describing the squad as one he deeply enjoyed working with throughout the season.

“It’s a group I had a lot of fun with,” Mourinho said. “I always went to training happy to be with them.”

Although he denied directly saying goodbye, Mourinho acknowledged that football can often be “ungrateful” and defended his players against criticism after the Braga result.

Benfica will finish their league campaign against Estoril Praia this weekend, with Mourinho expected to clarify his future afterward.