Talk about an anti-climatic press conference this evening in Madrid.
Real president Florentino Perez told a news conference that Madrid has sacked Manuel Pellegrini and would be replacing him with Jose Mourinho. Note the would be part of that sentence. Mourinho is still officially the manager of Inter Milan.
“I am ready to admit to some mistakes but the hiring of Mourinho, one of the world’s best coaches, is an opportunity that this Real Madrid, who always fight for excellence, could not afford to miss,” Perez said. We are absolutely convinced that we need a fresh impulse and that a coach like Mourinho can be the person to take charge of the squad for the next few years. Madrid bets on stability but stability for the fans is winning and being leaders. Stability is not about keeping on a coach.”
Before the “Special One” can take over at the Bernabeu, Real have to take care of the £16m buy-out clause in Mourinho’s contract.
There are rumors that Mourinho’s first signing will be Inter full back Maicon for around £24m, leaving Inter with £40m to invest in the squad post Mourinho.
