Florentino Perez who is the owner of Los Blancos is said to be displeased with the recent poor form of the club as they have now slipped to third and four points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid.
Benitez who has also coached English clubs Liverpool and Chelsea has
endured a tough season at the Bernabeu since taking over in June 2015,
having fall-outs with some key players of the club. Their 2 – 2
draw
against Valencia simply forced the management to take the crucial
decision.
Real president Florentino Perez said: “I am here to say that the board has just decided, in a difficult decision, especially for me, to end contract of Rafa as first-team coach. I would like to make it clear that he is a great professional. Zinedine Zidane knows better than anyone what it is like to stand at the front and lead Real Madrid. Throughout his career he has always been able to face up to huge challenges. He is one of the greatest players of all time. Zinedine, this is your club, your stadium and you have all our support. Zidane you are, from this moment, the trainer of Real Madrid.”A top source to the club revealed that the three-time world footballer of the year prefer a summer change but won’t turn down the chance to manage the ten-time European champions.
Revered Spanish football expert Guillem Balague spoke with Sky Sports and suggested that club president Florentino Perez might have lost confidence in Benitez many weeks ago.
“At the same time, he held a poll before Christmas with season ticket holders on who they would like as a replacement. He was was just waiting for the right moment to do what seems inevitable.
“It’s quite clear Benitez doesn’t have the confidence of the board or Perez. Perez wants Jose Mourinho to come back, there is no doubt about it, but if he did that right now he’ll have to get rid of five or six players, as some of the big players at Real Madrid do not want Jose Mourinho back.
“So how Florentino Perez sort that out? I don’t know. It won’t be now, it won’t be for a while. Who he is trying to convince is Zidane, but Florentino is not 100 per cent convinced that Zidane himself is the solution.
“So with no clear alternative, all that debate is happening at board level, and with Florentino and his entourage.”
The club is expected to an official announcement soon.
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