Pochettino refuses to rule out a move to Real
Amidst all the rumours, Mauricio Pochettino has spoken. In an interview with Spanish news outlet 'AS,' the Tottenham manager kept his options open.
The Spurs boss was in Barcelona doing publicity for his new book documenting his time in London. At the event, the media didn't shy away from asking him about football's hottest topic.
In his answers, Pochettino gave very little away. The former Espanyol manager didn't light up when Real Madrid were mentioned, nor did he rule out a move to the Spanish capital: "I live in the present, there is nothing more important than this. I enjoy what is happening and what has to be, will be."
"[Former coach] Jorge Griffa told me once that I have to let football take me wherever, to not get bogged down in trying to change my own destiny," he added.
One of the favourites to take Zinedine Zidane's place at the Bernabeu, Pochettino recently signed a new contract with Spurs that should, hypothetically, see him at the club until 2023. But football doesn't work like that.
"I'm very happy at Tottenham," Pochettino told the news conference. "It would be disrespectful to Daniel [Levy, Tottenham chairman] for me to force a move. I've just renewed with Tottenham and I am happy.
It was initially thought that the Argentine had a special release clause in his contract that would enable him to leave for Real Madrid if and when they came knocking, but those rumours were debunked by the 'BBC.' Only time will tell if Florentino Perez has Pochettino in his plans for 'Los Blancos.'