Real Madrid is seriously exploring the matter of a head coach ahead of next season. According to ESPN, Real Madrid's management may be discussing the option of replacing Alvaro Arbeloa with Mauricio Pochettino, who is currently managing the US national team.
Why is Arbeloa's future in question?
As a reminder, Real Madrid announced the appointment of Arbeloa to replace Xabi Alonso on January 12th, but no specific details regarding the contract duration were provided. Sources note that the current coach needs a huge result to stay in the next season: it's as if a "miracle" is required or the team needs to win the Champions League.
That is, the situation for Arbeloa is simple: a simple good game might not be enough - if there's no big prize, the place is "shaky."
At the same time, it is said that the club does not want to exclude Arbeloa from the system at all. If he doesn't stay on the main team, he may be offered another role. Specifically, the possibility of returning him to the position of head coach of Real Madrid's reserve team, Castilla, is being mentioned.
Perez's "old dream" Pochettino
Real Madrid's management is considering several candidates. Among them is Mauricio Pochettino, a specialist highly valued by Florentino Perez. The Argentinian coach's name has been linked to Madrid numerous times since he led Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2019.
The interest in Pochettino within Real Madrid is no coincidence: he is seen as a coach who has worked in large teams, knows how to achieve results under high pressure, and especially has a good sense of the psychology of major tournaments. Now, while he's managing the US national team, Madrid seems to have taken him back as an "option" once again.
Not only the coach, but also the chief scout is at risk
According to ESPN, potential changes at Real Madrid may not be limited to the coaching staff. The position of the club's head scout, Juni Kalafat, is also under question. The thing is, even though he is said to have a good relationship with Perez, if the team remains without a trophy for the second consecutive season, "friendship" might not be a sufficient argument to keep him.
Conclusion
In short, the rest of the season in Madrid isn't just ordinary football - it's a real "examination period." Arbeloa needs to perform well to stay, and the management is also considering candidates like Pochettino in parallel. If Real Madrid is left without a grand prize, it's also possible that the changes won't end with just one position.
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