'Pochettino will go if Madrid come calling'

"He's doing a great job in England and recently extended his contract with Tottenham so he's happy there. But if he has the opportunity to take over at a big team, then he will take it," Zabaleta said in an interview for 'COPE.'

The defender then went into more depth and noted one side in particular: "When you put that Real Madrid jersey on, it is a very big crest and you need to have that experience at certain times and know how to play in the competition."

Zabaleta then touched on the club from the Spanish capital's hold on Europe's premier club competition: "The Champions League anthem sounds and those players just swell their chest and go out and win. Without a doubt they are the best team in the world at the moment."

Zidane's departure announcement has produced a whirlwind of rumours, with Pochettino tipped to replace the Frenchman. 

Despite having just renewed his contract at Tottenham, the Argentine manager has a special clause in his contracts that allows him to leave should Real Madrid come knocking. 

Although Madrid president Florentino Pérez claimed to be surprised by Zidane's announcement, Pochettino has emerged as the prime candidate to take the helm at the Bernabeu.