Mourinho downplays Benfica salary, says he is 'in the red' after return

Jose Mourinho has moved to quell talk that he is earning a near-£15 million-a-year salary at Benfica, insisting that he is actually financially out of pocket after returning to the Lisbon club. The 62-year-old was unveiled last week on a two-year deal at Benfica, the club where he began his managerial career in 2000, after leaving Fenerbahce following their failure to qualify for the Champions League. He has since taken charge of Benfica's first team and is now in the early stages of a second stint with the club.

Portuguese media had circulated figures suggesting Mourinho would earn almost £30 million across the two seasons, with estimates of about £14 million in the first year and £15.7 million in the second. In response, he told reporters that those numbers were inaccurate and repeated his assertion that he is 'in the red' because of the personal and professional commitments involved in his return. 'If I had stayed at home until the end of the season, I would have earned more than I did at Benfica. It's that simple.' He added that he is not here for money alone and sees the move as a unique opportunity. 'I'm not even here for nothing; I'm in the red,' he said, stressing that cash is not the only currency in the sport and that the job offers more than money. 'Putting myself to the test, taking risks, being subject to winning, losing, being very good one day and terrible the next' are the rewards that drive him, underscoring his ongoing passion for competing at the highest level.

Mourinho, who returned to Benfica after a 10-match spell in 2000 during his first stint, has guided the team to four points from his first two league games. The manager's return marks the 12th stop in a lengthy coaching career that has included spells at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Roma, and Fenerbahce, crowned by a Champions League title with Porto and multiple league titles across Europe. He has often spoken of Benfica as a special club given its role in his development and his desire to compete for trophies with a club that helped shape his coaching identity.

However, the terms of Mourinho's contract are not guaranteed to keep him in Lisbon for the full two years. A recent report by Portuguese outlet Record disclosed an exit clause that could allow either party to terminate the agreement during the initial 10 days after the end of the current season, potentially with lower costs than a longer-term dismissal. The clause also covers a scenario in which Mourinho resigns, in which case Benfica would reportedly be required to pay a sum equivalent to the remaining terms of the deal. Regardless of the salary chatter, Benfica's start under Mourinho has done little to dampen the club's ambition as they navigate a crowded league and aim to meet European expectations.