Tottenham-linked Mauricio Pochettino, Julian Nagelsmann 'to wait for possible Real Madrid call this summer'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 30 March 2023

Spurs-linked Pochettino, Nagelsmann 'to wait for possible Real Madrid call this summer'

Mauricio Pochettino and Julian Nagelsmann will reportedly wait until the summer to see if the Real Madrid job becomes available, despite links with the Tottenham Hotspur vacancy.

Mauricio Pochettino and Julian Nagelsmann are both reportedly open to succeeding Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur, but will wait until the summer to see if the Real Madrid job becomes available.

Spurs are on the lookout for a new head coach following the departure of Conte by mutual consent on Sunday evening.

Conte's former assistant Cristian Stellini has been placed in charge of the first team for the final 10 Premier League matches of the campaign, while Ryan Mason will act as assistant coach.

Pochettino and Nagelsmann have emerged as the early frontrunners for the Tottenham managerial vacancy and both coaches are currently out of work.

Pochettino, who spent five years in charge at Spurs between 2014 and 2019, has not been in the dugout since he was relieved of his duties at Paris Saint-Germain in July last year, despite leading the French giants to the Ligue 1 title.

Mauricio Pochettino in charge of Paris Saint-Germain in December 2021 © Reuters

Nagelsmann, meanwhile, has only recently become unemployed after being surprisingly sacked by Bayern Munich last week after less than two years in charge, with Thomas Tuchel appointed as his successor.

While many Tottenham fans are keen to see Pochettino return to North London, Spurs are understood to have made contact with Nagelsmann over their vacancy, although they potentially face competition from Real Madrid and Chelsea for his signature.

According to 90min, both Pochettino and Nagelsmann are open to the prospect of replacing Conte as Tottenham manager, but will wait until the summer to make a final decision on their respective futures.

The report adds that both managers would prefer to hold out for the Real Madrid job should that vacancy become available if current boss Carlo Ancelotti leaves the club this summer.

Ancelotti has continuously expressed his desire to remain as Los Blancos head coach, but his future remains uncertain as his contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

It is understood that Real Madrid may look to target either Pochettino or Nagelsmann even if Ancelotti leads the club to Champions League glory this season.

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann reacts on January 24, 2023 © Reuters

Pochettino has been strongly linked with the Real Madrid job ever since he departed PSG, while Nagelsmann has previously admitted that he turned down the chance to manage at the Santiago Bernabeu following the departure of Zinedine Zidane in 2018.

Speaking to The Independent in February 2020, Nagelsmann said: "It's normal if Real Madrid call you, you think about it. I was surprised at first, I weighed it up and I didn't feel comfortable with a decision to go there.

"I want to improve. If you go to Real Madrid, there's no time to improve as a manager. You don't have a chance to be a better manager, you already have to be the best.

"I'm not the best now, but I can admit I want to be one of the best in future. If you go to Real Madrid or Barcelona, the fans, the media and the decision-makers don't give you the time to grow into that."

Should Tottenham fail in their pursuit of either Pochettino or Nagelsmann, a potential swoop for Luis Enrique has been mooted, and the former Barcelona and Spain boss has expressed his desire to manage in the Premier League.