The buzz around José Mourinho's potential return to Real Madrid is growing louder by the day. With the club's dressing room reportedly in need of a major shake-up, club president Florentino Perez sees the Portuguese tactician as the ideal man to restore order and winning mentality at the Santiago Bernabéu.

According to reports, Mourinho has already held an initial video conference with Perez, where both sides laid out their expectations. But while the conditions of a potential deal are important, the timeline is everything—and it all hinges on a few key dates.

Real Madrid won't move forward with negotiations until their season is officially over. That means no serious talks until after May 24th, when Los Blancos face Athletic Club in their final La Liga match of the season. But the real deadline comes a week earlier, on May 17th, when Mourinho's current club Benfica plays their last Portuguese league game against Estoril.

That date kicks off a crucial 10-day reflection period written into Mourinho's contract. During this window, he's free to evaluate offers and accept them—provided the interested club pays a €3 million release clause. If the decision drags on beyond that period, the buyout jumps to €5 million, a figure Real Madrid is reportedly less keen to pay for a coach.

With the clock ticking, Mourinho's second act in Madrid is looking more likely by the day. If it happens, it could spark a major transformation at one of football's biggest clubs—and the domino effect on the transfer market would be felt across Europe.