Major setback for Tottenham as leading managerial target reportedly agrees to take over as Real Madrid head coach.
Huge blow for Tottenham as top manager target ‘agrees’ to become Real Madrid boss
Tottenham’s pursuit of Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly suffered a major setback, with claims that the Argentine has agreed to take over at Real Madrid after the World Cup.
Spurs confirmed on Friday that former Juventus coach Igor Tudor has stepped in as interim head coach following the dismissal of Thomas Frank on Wednesday. The decision came after Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle, which proved to be the tipping point for the club’s hierarchy. A permanent appointment is expected in the summer.
However, hopes of bringing Pochettino back to north London appear to be fading. Spanish outlet Defensa Central reports that he has agreed to replace Alvaro Arbeloa at Real Madrid, provided the club commits to signing three players.
The former Tottenham manager is said to be open to the role under certain conditions, with two centre-backs and a midfielder identified as key additions to strengthen the squad for the future. The report suggests these demands align with Real Madrid’s own transfer plans, as the club believes there are areas that require improvement despite overall satisfaction with the current squad.
Even so, Pochettino is described as a “dark horse” candidate for the position next year, with Real Madrid reportedly sounding out several potential candidates and their representatives to assess their interest.
Pochettino is not expected to take charge of any club until after the World Cup, as he remains focused on leading the United States national team on home soil.
Meanwhile, Tudor has expressed pride in taking on the interim role at Tottenham. Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “It is an honour to join this club at an important moment. I understand the responsibility I have been handed and my focus is clear — to bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match. There is strong quality in this playing squad, and my job is to organise it, energise it and improve our results quickly.”
Sporting director Johan Lange added: “Igor brings clarity, intensity and experience of stepping into challenging moments and producing impact. Our objective is straightforward — to stabilise performances, maximise the quality within the squad and compete strongly in the Premier League and Champions League.”
