Balague explains why Pochettino was a no-go for Madrid following announcement

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Tottenham Hotspur’s Mauricio Pochettino was linked with the vacant Real Madrid post.

Football journalist Guillem Balague has told Sky Sports that Real Madrid didn’t want to deal with Tottenham Hotspur owner Daniel Levy and that’s why Mauricio Pochettino was a no-go for the vacant post.

The recent Champions League winners have named Spain’s national team coach Julen Lopetegui as their new manager, with the 51-year-old to join the club after the upcoming World Cup.

Madrid had been on the lookout for a new manager following the resignation of popular coach Zinedine Zidane, and many expected them to go in for Spurs boss Pochettino.

Earlier this month Sky Sports ran a piece claiming that the Argentine was the club’s number one choice, but Spanish football expert Balague has since explained to Sky Sports why that may not have been the case.

“It has been surprising for everybody, but to be honest the three names who had been linked – Pochetitno, Jurgen Klopp and Antonio Conte – for different reasons they didn’t fit the agenda,” Balague said.

“Pochettino quite clearly didn’t even have the chance to say yes or no because Real Madrid did not want to negotiate with Daniel Levy.”

The La Liga giants have dealt with Spurs owner Levy before, signing both Luka Modric and Gareth Bale from the north London club with the latter arriving for a then world record transfer fee.

But it seems Madrid knew prizing away Tottenham’s main man, Pochettino, would have been a different matter altogether especially after the former Espanyol boss recently signed a new five-year deal.

Bringing in Spain boss Lopetegui has come as a surprise to most, though for Tottenham supporters it is a welcome relief and you could understand it if they are hoping the former goalkeeper does a decent job there.

Pochettino is only at the beginning of what is a potentially wonderful long-term stay at White Hart Lane, and it would have been a shame to see him move on and miss out on leading the team in its new home.