There has been more support for Roberto Martinez to be named the next manager of Real Madrid following the sacking of Julen Lopetegui on Monday.
The Belgium manager, well known to British fans because of his stints as manager of Swansea, Wigan and Everton, emerged as a surprise contender to replace Lopetegui after reports yesterday suggested negotiations with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte hit a wall.
It looked like Conte would be a shoo-in to become the new Real Madrid boss but reports last week suggested current players including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois were unhappy about the thought of working for Conte. In the same interview, Courtois spoke warmly of Martinez and put his name forward as a potential Real Madrid boss in the future.
That move could come quicker than originally anticipated after Martinez was mentioned as a potential replacement for Lopetegui as soon as next month.
Jorge Valdano, a former manager and sporting director at the Bernabeu, told radio station Onda Cero: "Appointing Martinez seems the best idea to me. A coach that could turn things around. He seems more adaptable than Conte.
"Conte has prestige because he's won in various countries, but Roberto [would] adapt to this team. It's not an easy job because there's no regular goalscorer."
Real Madrid suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico on Sunday and they are currently ninth in La Liga. They have not won since beating Espanyol on September 22.
Santiago Solari was placed in interim charge of Real Madrid last night and although he has ambitions of taking the job permanently, he is unlikely to be offered the job permanently at this stage.
