Roberto Martinez is the shock leading candidate to become the new manager of Real Madrid.
The former Everton manager’s stock has never been higher after he guided Belgium to a third-place finish at the World Cup and he now has an outstanding chance to land the biggest job in club football.
It had seemed almost certain that former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte would take over from Julen Lopetegui, whose disastrous four-month reign ended after Madrid were trounced 5-1 by Barcelona at the weekend but there was a dramatic twist late on Monday night.
Sportsmail understands that key figures within Madrid’s dressing room were opposed to the appointment of the Italian which prompted the club’s hierarchy to scrap that plan.
That now means Martinez could be given the opportunity to revive the campaign of the reigning Champions League holders and he is the favourite to become the next permanent manager.
Madrid have not yet made a formal approach to Martinez’s long-term advisor Chris Farnell nor have they been in contact with the Belgian FA to speak about releasing the 45-year-old from his contract, which runs until after Euro 2020.
Martinez does not have a release clause in the terms he agreed in May and Belgium would be loathe to lose him so soon after his assistant Thierry Henry quit to take over as manager of Monaco; Madrid’s task, therefore, would not be straightforward.
The opportunity to lead Belgium was something that fascinated Martinez and he embraced the challenge, uprooting his young family from their home in Lancashire to a base outside Brussels.
For the moment, though, Santiago Solari has been placed in caretaker charge and his first game will be Wednesday night's Copa Del Rey tie against Melilla, which Madrid would be expected to win comfortably.
‘I am very excited and very satisfied,’ Solari said. ‘Coaching Madrid is a great opportunity. This is a squad full of champions and warriors.’
-Dailymail