According to sources, Real Madrid has placed Mauricio Pochettino on their shortlist of potential successors for Álvaro Arbeloa as they prepare for the upcoming season.
The LaLiga powerhouse has started evaluating candidates in anticipation of significant restructuring expected this summer, which may also impact those responsible for the transfer strategy.
Madrid confirmed Arbeloa’s appointment to replace Xabi Alonso on January 12, but details regarding the length of his contract were not disclosed.
While Arbeloa, a former player for both Madrid and Liverpool, garnered respect for his work with the youth teams at Santiago Bernabéu, some insiders indicated he wasn’t seen as a long-term answer.
In the early months of Arbeloa’s tenure, results have not improved, with sources suggesting that he may require “a miracle” or a Champions League victory to secure his position for the next season.
There are reports that Madrid might offer him a different role within the club, possibly allowing him to return as the manager of Castilla, their reserve team.
Sources reveal that Madrid is assessing various candidates for a new sporting project, with Pochettino being a preferred choice of president Florentino Pérez.
Pochettino has been rumored to be in talks for a return to Spurs this summer, even as his former club struggles in a relegation fight in the Premier League.
The current head coach of the United States, whose contract lasts through this summer’s World Cup, has previously been connected to Madrid after leading Tottenham Hotspur to the Champions League final in 2019.
Pochettino is well-acquainted with LaLiga from his playing days and has experience managing high-profile players at Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. Notably, his two seasons coaching Kylian Mbappé at PSG is particularly valued by Madrid.
– Vitinha: ‘Foolish’ to leave PSG despite Real Madrid rumours
– Real Madrid fined after fan filmed making Nazi salute
– USMNT suffers injury scare as Sergiño Dest is ‘out for a little while’
Pochettino won three titles while coaching Mbappé at PSG, including Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the French Super Cup, yet he was unable to secure a Champions League triumph, losing out in the semifinals to Manchester City in 2021 and in the round of 16 to Real Madrid in 2022.
Arbeloa isn’t the only one facing uncertainty at the club, as a particularly busy summer is anticipated at Santiago Bernabéu.
After a trophyless season, Real Madrid invested over £170 million ($227.9 million) in last summer’s transfer window, but the performance of some signings has fallen short of expectations.
Moreover, reports suggest that the future of Madrid’s head of scouting, Juni Calafat, is also in question, despite previous praise for his successful signings of young talents like Vinícius Junior, Rodrygo, Éder Militão, and Jude Bellingham. However, last summer’s acquisitions—Franco Mastantuono, Dean Huijsen, and Trent Alexander-Arnold—have yet to prove their worth.
While Pérez and Calafat maintain a strong working relationship, it may not be enough to guarantee his job security if the team fails to achieve a successful season once more.
Jürgen Klopp, Unai Emery, and Massimiliano Allegri have recently emerged as potential candidates for the managerial position, while some reports suggest that a return for Zidane remains Pérez’s top preference. However, there are indications that Zidane may have already agreed to take over the French national team after the World Cup.