Real Madrid line up former Liverpool boss
Last week, Rafael Benitez was talking up the prospect of a return to Liverpool but the Spanish tactician could instead be returning to his homeland seven years after leaving his position as Valencia manager, according to a story broken by radio station Onda Cero.
They report that Benitez has signed an agreement with Real Madrid, whose youth and B teams he led at the start of his coaching career, stating that he will take charge in the summer if Jose Mourinho either decides to walk away or is axed by success-hungry president Florentino Perez.
While the political situation at the Bernabeu has calmed since the Special One got his own way in January and the club brought in Emmanuel Adebayor to enhance his attacking options, odds of 1.6 are offered on Betfair on Mourinho departing before the start of next season.
The much sought-after Portuguese boss has talked up his interest in a return to the Premier League several times and stated that his next job will be in England, though unless Manchester City miss out on the top four or Roman Abramovich welcomes him back, there may not be any major vacancies.
That weakens the possibility of him resigning and indicates that the strongest chance of him exiting the Spanish capital would be having been pushed for failing to deliver either La Liga or the Champions League, but regardless, it is believed that Perez is eager to prepare a Plan B now.
Benitez remains highly rated in Spain having twice guided Valencia to the title, the only occasions in the last decade that Real Madrid and Barcelona have been denied, and lifted the Champions League in his first campaign at Anfield.!
