Lopetegui struggles have Real Madrid feeling regret over Klopp swoop

Oli Fisher
Jurgen Klopp TEAMtalk

Real Madrid were keen on appointing Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp as Zinedine Zidane’s replacement, according to a report.

Zidane left Los Blancos during the summer after winning nine major trophies at the Bernabeu, and the Frenchman has since been linked with the job of being Jose Mourinho’s replacement at Manchester United.

Julen Lopetegui was hired as Zidane’s successor, however he is under pressure having won just four of his opening eight LaLiga games, with Real sitting in fourth position.

The 52-year-old took over on the eve of the World Cup where he was supposed to lead the Spanish national team.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid actually wanted Liverpool boss Klopp to be Zidane’s replacement.

The German though could not be prised away from Anfield, where he recently celebrated his third anniversary and has a contract until 2022.

The report claims that Real also reached out to Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino among other names before finally settling for Lopetegui.

 

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