Were it up to the British press Mauricio Pochettino would be on his way to Spain to become Real Madrid’s new head coach.
Today’s newspapers are almost unanimous in believing the Tottenham boss will replace Zinedine Zidane in the most prestigious managerial position in world club football, although they also predict that Spurs will wring a high price out of the European champions.
According to The Times, Spurs “will demand £42.5m in compensation” for Pochettino, who only last week signed a new five-year contract worth £8.5m a year.
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Significantly, notes the paper, the contract “does not include a release clause”, and chairman Daniel Levy is said to be “confident” that his manager will rebuff any advance from Real because Pochettino is relishing the prospect of turning Tottenham into a force capable of challenging the Spanish club’s dominance in Europe.
The Guardian disputes that claim, reporting that the lure of a return to Spain for Pochettino, a country the Argentinian knows well from his playing days and his time managing Espanyol between 2009 and 2012, “may prove too strong to resist”.
Apparently Real had initially been under the impression that a release clause was inserted into Pochettino’s contract, allowing him to leave should they come calling, but Tottenham “insist that is not the case”.
The Daily Mail says that Tottenham will put up “fierce resistance” to any approach from Real for Pochettino, who the paper says is the club’s No.1 choice to replace Zidane. Intriguingly, notes the paper, Pochettino is in Spain today to attend the launch of his book, and they report that “Spurs chiefs will be anxiously awaiting his return”.
According to The Sun, Real have their eye on another Premier League manager - Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp. The German led the Reds to the Champions League final against Real and the Sun says that Real president Florentino Perez believes Klopp has the “personality and character required to take over at the Bernabeu”.
Les Bleus next for Zidane?
As for Zidane’s future, French sports daily L’Equipe - who also predict Pochettino will be the next Real coach - say it’s only a matter of time before he becomes the coach of Les Bleus. His shock decision to step down from Real Madrid has certainly put the pressure on the current coach of France, Didier Deschamps, as he prepares his squad for the impending World Cup.
France play Italy tonight in a friendly and the pre-match press conference was dominated not by selection for the World Cup but by Zidane’s resignation.
“I don’t have all the ins and outs, but I can understand why he made that decision,” said Deschamps, a teammate of Zidane’s when France won the World Cup in 1998. “To leave while being at the top, he has that freedom. Some take it, some don’t. And some are obliged to.”
Asked if he now felt under more pressure, Deschamps replied: “I don’t ask myself the question. I’m focused on what lies in front of us as a squad.”
And when a journalist asked if he would be happy to hand over the keys of the French team to Zidane, he said, laughing: “I don’t have the keys, it’s the president [Noel Le Graet, of the FFR] who has them. I don’t know what he’ll decide.”
But Deschamps added that he believes at some point in the future Zidane will “definitely” coach France. “When, I cannot say. But it seems logical. It will happen when it happens.”
Real Madrid next manager odds
When news broke yesterday that Zidane was stepping down from the Real Madrid job, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was the early favourite to take over at the Santiago Bernabeu. According to the bookies Wenger remains a contender alongside Pochettino, Guti and Antonio Conte. Here are the latest prices (as of 1 June).
Oddschecker
- Mauricio Pochettino: 3/1
- Arsene Wenger: 7/2
- Guti: 8/1
- Raul: 10/1
- Antonio Conte: 12/1
- Santiago Solari: 14/1
- Maurizio Sarri: 15/1
- Massimiliano Allegri: 16/1
Sky Bet
- Arsene Wenger: 11/8
- Mauricio Pochettino: 13/8
- Guti: 6/1
- Antonio Conte: 8/1
- Maurizio Sarri: 14/1
- Santiago Solari: 14/1
- Joachim Low: 16/1
- Massimiliano Allegri: 16/1
