Real Madrid are planning a shock move for former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas as they continue their search for a viable replacement for Zinedine Zidane.
According to a latest report by French outlet RMC Sport, European champions Real Madrid have made contacts with Andre Villas-Boas. The Portuguese mastermind has been eyed as a potential candidate to take over at the Bernabeu next season following the departure of Zinedine Zidane.
Following the shock exit of former head coach Zidane, it has been a rough few weeks for European champions Real Madrid . The Frenchman left the Bernabeu shortly after guiding Los Blancos to their 13th Champions League. His exit has left president Florentino Perez pondering over the club’s future next season.
That being said, Real Madrid have been linked with moves for a series of talented managers, however. The latest in this shortlist of potential Zidane replacements is Andre Villas-Boas.
The Portuguese manager took a career break, following his departure from Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League. He left the Chinese giants last year in order to drive in Dakar Rally, which was concluded earlier this year.
However, the report suggests that the former Chelsea and Tottenham head coach is a free agent once again and will be keen to take up an opportunity to manage in Europe. Although Real Madrid’s interest in the Portuguese head coach might appear as a shock to most of the fans and experts alike, Villas-Boas does have a strong relationship with attacking superstar Gareth Bale.
The Welsh international flourished under the management of Villas-Boas during their time together at Tottenham. In fact, Villas-Boas’ first season at White Hart Lane will arguably remain as Bale’s best season ever on an individual level. He was named the Player of the Year and subsequently earned a then-world record move to Real Madrid.
Therefore, the Welshman could understandably play a huge role behind Real Madrid’s interest in the 40-year-old as they continue their search for a viable replacement for Zinedine Zidane.
On the flip side, however, Villas-Boas has been very inconsistent following the 2012-13 season. After failing to make good use of the Bale money at Tottenham, the Portuguese was sacked in the following season, just weeks before Christmas. He did make some ground at Russia, however. During his spell with Zenit, he helped the Lions win the Russian league title as well as the Russian cup.
But things turned sour, as he received a six-game ban for assaulting a match official. Additionally, his relationship with the club also went in the wrong direction, ultimately forcing him to quit the Russian giants in 2016.
Los Blancos, on the other hand, are looking for someone who can not only sustain Zidane’s unprecedented success in the past three years but also maintain a sense of calmness within their ranks. But, considering the fact that Villas-Boas is often known for his bad attitude and lack of responsibility towards players’ morale, he will definitely be a bad fit for a star-studded club like Real Madrid.
Therefore, it would be wiser for the Spanish giants to wave off their interest in this highly impulsive Portuguese and instead, look for other available candidates on the market this summer, although it remains to be seen if Villas-Boas becomes the chosen one by the Real Madrid board.
