Benfica coach Jose Mourinho insisted he is capable of saying no to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as he played down rumours of a return to the Spanish giants on Monday. Mourinho's Benfica host Real Madrid in a Champions League play-off round clash on Tuesday, before the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu next week. "I gave everything to Real Madrid, everything that I had, I did good things, I did bad things, but I gave absolutely everything and that's all," said Mourinho. "I think he's a coach with a lot of capability and a boy who has Madrid within him, and with the personality to coach Madrid, which isn't something anyone can do." "The Real Madrid I expect tomorrow is the Real Madrid who are number one favourites to win the Champions League," added Mourinho.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 17, 2026 04:34 UTC