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Who will be the new Real Madrid boss?
The favorite for the position on Thursday morning was Massimiliano Allegri, but he went instead to Juve where they offered him a four year deal as opposed to Real Madrid’s two. They will pay him 9 million euros for four years.
Massimiliano Allegri has agreed a contract with Juventus until 2025, Goal can confirm pic.twitter.com/KawTVaze5c
— Goal (@goal) May 27, 2021
The two favorites who then come to the top of the list are Castilla coach Raúl Gonzalez and the Italian manager Antonio Conte. Raul has no experience at all coaching top league football and one has to wonder if the Real Madrid board would get past that size of a risk. Conte just won the Scudetto with Inter Milan and curiously has become available. Why did Inter let him go? Via ESPN:
Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport suggested the move was in part due to the club’s need to cut operating costs amid the coronavirus pandemic. The newspaper claimed Inter wanted to cut salary costs by 15-20% and player departures would be necessary, with Conte not keen to work with a “downsized” project.
These are tough financial times indeed for many teams caught in the blight of the coronavirus pandemic. PSG and Tottenham are said to be also taking a look at Conte. Josep Pedrerol of ElChiringuitotv reports that Conte was enthusiastic about the interest from Madrid, but make of that what you will. Gianluigi Longari of Sportitalia TV reports that Real Madrid are in the lead to sign Conte.
| Antonio Conte is in pole position for Real Madrid. @Glongari #rmalive
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 27, 2021
If Madrid is sold on Conte, it helps their case that his Inter contract includes a no-train clause in Italy:
| Antonio Conte only has one clause after his departure from Inter Milan: he cannot train for a year in Italy. He is a real option to take over at Real Madrid next season.@ellarguero [ ]
— Madrid Xtra. (@MadridXtra) May 27, 2021
The Argentine Mauricio Pochettino has also recently emerged as a possibility as a result of a fallout with PSG sporting director Leonardo (what a shock, no?).
With question marks emerging over his future with Paris Saint-Germain, Mauricio Pochettino is appearing as a coach option for Real Madrid. [marca] pic.twitter.com/GKCxbKam1M
— Real Madrid Info ³⁴ (@RMadridInfo) May 27, 2021
It has been said in the past that Pochettino has support from people on the Real Madrid board.
Real Madrid have made Mauricio Pochettino their top managerial target after Zinedine Zidane's exit, Goal can confirm pic.twitter.com/c8yx4PEfEq
— Goal (@goal) May 27, 2021
Report: UEFA plan to change the UCL format
(ht: Football_Novice)
| UEFA are preparing a plan to change the format for the final stages of the #UCL. They've thought of “champions week” concept in which two one-legged semifinals and the final will be played in 1 city, along with a schedule of concerts, games and other events. @nytimes #rmalive
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 27, 2021
One has to reckon that many teams will object strongly to a semifinal leg being taken out of their home stadiums.