News Focus
- Jose Mourinho is the top choice to become the new Real Madrid boss
- The club will decide after the El Clasico match against Barcelona this Sunday
- Mourinho wants seven players sold and full control over team matters
- Current club Benfica want him to stay but Real Madrid have started direct talks
- Other candidates include Pochettino, Scaloni and Deschamps, but they are busy with the World Cup
Real Madrid plan to name Jose Mourinho as their new manager next week. The club will make the move after their crucial clash with Barcelona at the Camp Nou this Sunday.
Los Blancos must win the match. If they lose, Barcelona will win the La Liga title with three games left to play.
Club president Florentino Perez will act fast. He will choose the new manager once Real Madrid cannot win the league.
Famous reporter Fabrizio Romano says the Spanish giants have already started talks with Mourinho. The Portuguese boss currently manages Benfica, but the Lisbon club know he wants to return to Madrid.
Mourinho led Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. He won the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey during his first spell at the Bernabeu.
This time, he has set tough conditions. He wants complete control over which players join and leave the squad. He also demands that at least seven stars leave the club this summer.
Mourinho also wants fitness coach Antonio Pintus to exit. He would bring his own coaching team and organise all pre-season tours.
Three other men are on the shortlist. They are Mauricio Pochettino, Lionel Scaloni and Didier Deschamps. However, all three are managing national teams at the World Cup. They cannot start work until after the tournament ends.
Former favourites Zinedine Zidane and Jurgen Klopp will not get the job. The club has ruled both men out.
The timing is important after a difficult week at the club. Reports of fights in the dressing room have become public. Players Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni were involved in a clash this week.