In case you missed it…
Over the weekend, Spanish journalist Guillem Balague – the author of Mauricio Pochettino’s biography – revealed Real Madrid have ended their interest in the Tottenham manager.
Madrid had identified Pochettino as their number one target to replace Zinedine Zidane, who left his post at the Bernabeu last week after leading the La Liga giants to a third successive Champions League title.
Pochettino signed a new five-year contract with Spurs last month and has apparently been promised increased transfer funds to overhaul his squad this summer.
Balague has also revealed why Madrid ended their interest in the Argentinian.
The lack of a release clause in Pochettino’s contract coupled with the prospect of difficult negotiations with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy ultimately forced Madrid to look elsewhere.
Balague told Sky Sports: “Real could see there was so many positives in signing him, not just the fact he can deal with the stars but how he improves players and how he works with youth players as well.
“But what they had in front of them was the possibility of negotiating with Daniel Levy for perhaps a month, even longer, with no guarantees whatsoever that they were going to get him.
“They know that Levy is a very tough negotiator, with Florentino [Perez, Real Madrid’s president] having been in touch with him in recent seasons. They’ve decided to abandon the possibility of signing Mauricio Pochettino.”
The update will come as welcome news to Spurs fans, many of whom will have been genuinely concerned when Madrid’s interest became apparently last week.
There is still a chance Pochettino will take over at the Bernabeu in the future, but it’s vital Tottenham hold on to him while they are still in a transitional period.
Thank god the poch is still here for now. Why go to real for a season lose to Bara and then get sacked.
Exactly. Real would be a no brainer for him if he was guaranteed 5 years there. But you can win champions league 3 in a row and still be forced out. Who wants that? It’s like doing a 4 minute mile to run into school and then being dropped for the athletics in favour of a new fat kid:)
oi i am that fat kid
It is so fulfilling . The only club from London in the cl next season. Not one spurs fan can say they’d seen this day arrive; not coming but, arrive! The most fought and sought after forward , centre half and manager in the league – that’s premier and champions. And yet, not even a twitch despite all the desperation and filthy tactics used to proxy sell our best assets. Total loyalty and dignity. We are in a great place! Don’t let any hairy Hotspur article or other detractor scare or tell you otherwise lol
Coyfs