Jose Mourinho Poised to Make Comeback at Real Madrid as Xabi Alonso’s Replacement

Jose Mourinho is on the verge of returning to Real Madrid for a second spell as manager, with Los Blancos finally having found a successor for Xabi Alonso.

Alvaro Arbeloa took over as interim manager in January 2026, but with the season drawing to a close, Mourinho is expected to step into the role.

The Portuguese coach plans to leave Benfica after a successful first season, where he guided the team to a top-three finish, finishing just behind Sporting CP and FC Porto, the reigning Portuguese champions.

Now, The Special One will head back to the Spanish capital, 13 years after his initial term as manager, and already has strategies in place for new signings.

Jose Mourinho Eyeing Marcus Rashford for Real Madrid Reunion

According to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney in his Inside Football newsletter, Mourinho is targeting Marcus Rashford, who has recently completed a year-long loan at Barcelona, as reported by the Spanish outlet Sport.

Barcelona holds the option to make Rashford’s loan permanent for £26 million but is believed to be interested in negotiating either a second loan or a reduced fee with Manchester United.

Rashford has proven his worth in LaLiga, netting 14 goals and providing 14 assists in 48 appearances, helping Barcelona retain the LaLiga title for a consecutive year.

In light of this, Mourinho reportedly hopes to reunite with the forward, having previously collaborated at Old Trafford.

During his time under Mourinho, Marcus Rashford made 125 appearances, scoring 28 goals and assisting 20 times from September 2016 to December 2018.

Despite enjoying his tenure at Camp Nou, where moving to join Hansi Flick’s side is seen as a dream opportunity, questions arise about the likelihood of joining Real Madrid after just one season in Spain.

Nonetheless, with Rashford’s loan approaching its conclusion, his next move in the footballing world will soon become apparent, as a return to Old Trafford seems unlikely, even with Michael Carrick now at the helm.