Benfica president Rui Costa has confirmed that José Mourinho would have departed the Lisbon club regardless of the outcome of Real Madrid's presidential elections.

The revelation puts to rest any suggestion that Mourinho's exit from Benfica was contingent on Florentino Pérez retaining the Real Madrid presidency. According to Costa, the decision was already made — Mourinho was leaving no matter what.

Pérez won re-election as Real Madrid president, though Costa made clear that even a different result at the Bernabéu boardroom would not have changed Mourinho's plans to move on from Benfica.

The comments shed new light on the circumstances surrounding Mourinho's departure and suggest the Portuguese manager had firmly set his sights beyond his homeland, irrespective of what was unfolding at the Spanish giants.