By ROB BEASLEY
The Special One has agreed with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez he will leave by “mutual consent” at the end of the season.
And that means the Blues do not have to pay ANY compensation for him — despite the fact he has three years left on his £10million-a-season deal.
Perez last night told a packed Press conference in Madrid: “Following a meeting of the board and a conversation with Jose Mourinho, we have decided to bring our relationship to an end at the end of this current season.
“The club and manager agree that the timing is right to go our separate ways.”
But Perez stressed: “No one has been sacked — it is a mutual agreement.”
That means Chelsea can now take back the most successful manager in their history without having to pay a penny.
There had been fears the Stamford Bridge club could face a massive bill for prising their former boss out of his Real contract.
But Mourinho and Perez thrashed out an amicable departure over the weekend in the wake of the club’s shock Spanish Cup defeat at the Bernabeu against local rivals Atletico Madrid on Friday night.
That surprise setback leaves the 50-year-old Portuguese coach without a trophy to parade at the end of the season for the first time in his senior career.
But Perez still paid tribute to the departing boss.
He added: “On behalf of the board of directors I would like to thank Jose Mourinho for his hard work during the last three years.
“The team has improved in the last three years and we wish him well.”
Mourinho will remain in charge for Madrid’s last two games of the season to complete his three seasons with Los Blancos.
On Sunday they are away to Real Sociedad before playing their final game at home against Osasuna on Saturday, June 1.
That will bring the curtain down on Mourinho’s reign at a club where he has endured a stormy time, clashing with his players, fans and the Spanish media.
The decision not to make an immediate break gives Madrid extra time to clinch a deal with another former Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian is the hot favourite to move to Madrid from new French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Perez refused to give anything away, though, and added: “We have come to this decision just now, although it has been in the back of our minds for a while now.
“So we haven’t come to any agreement, we have no pre-contract signed.
“That’s something we have to look at over the coming days.”
Mourinho will be counting the days.
He cannot wait to go back to where he’s “loved” and set about masterminding the Blues’ push for glory next season.
He will meet with Chelsea early next month to formally seal his return to a club where he won six trophies in three seasons.
The Special One lifted two Premier League titles, two Carling Cups, the FA Cup and Community Shield in his first spell at the Bridge from 2004 to 2007.
