Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has warned Real Madrid that they face a tough task in trying to bring Mauricio Pochettino to Spain.
Madrid are expected to dismiss Julen Lopetegui as manager on Monday following their 5-1 humiliation at the hands of fierce rivals Barcelona in the El Classico which has left them in nine place in La Liga and are already 7 points off the pace.
Pochettino was heavily linked with a move to Bernabeu after Zinedine Zidane resigned after guiding them to their third successive Champions League crown. However, the Spurs boss committed his future to the club by signing a new five-year contract extension along with his backroom staff.
Guardiola believes that Madrid would have a difficult time in persuading Spurs chairman Daniel Levy in parting company with his manager.
He told the Evening Standard: “I think he is already a top coach,”
“For many years he is training at a high level.
“He did an incredible job at Espanyol and Southampton and especially here at Tottenham. I have a lot of respect of the job he has done in his career so he is already a reality as a manager, no doubt.
“He has been linked many times with Real Madrid. He can answer that question – but I don’t know what happens. What I think is Mr Levy is not an easy guy to negotiate with.”
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