Poch’s eyes on Real deal
MAURICIO POCHETTINO dropped a massive hint yesterday that he wants to manage Real Madrid.
In what amounted to a come and get me plea, the Tottenham boss refused to rule out succeeding Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu.
And he admitted an approach from the European champions would be impossible to ignore.
Pochettino only signed a new five-year deal worth £8.5m a year with Spurs last week.
But he said: “When Real Madrid call you, you have to listen to them.
“Although in this case it doesn’t depend on me. I have just signed a long contract with Tottenham and I am very happy there.
“I renewed recently for five years. I am very happy with my current team. I enjoy the day to day, I am happy, but you never know what can happen.
“I live in the present, that is the
important thing. I enjoy what is happening and what has to be will be.”
The Argentine is Real’s No.1 choice to replace Zidane – who stunned football when he quit on Thursday after winning a third Champions League title in a row.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will be desperate to keep Pochettino and has vowed to fight tooth and nail to fend off interest.
But Real president Florentino Perez is determined to land his man this summer.
Pochettino, 46, has no clause in his new deal allowing him to join Real.
He took over at Spurs in May 2014 and has led to them to fifth, third, second and third-place finishes in the league.
Were he to join Real, though, the Spanish giants would then also fancy their chances of luring away star striker Harry Kane as well.