Mauricio Pochettino insists he is happy at Tottenham but conceded you have to listen to Real Madrid when they come calling.
Madrid have made the former Espanyol manager their top managerial target this summer following Zinedine Zidane’s shock departure on Thursday.
Zidane announced his decision to resign in an impromptu press conference just days after leading Madrid to their third straight European title.
The 45-year-old shocked Madrid by deciding to leave and now the search for his successor has started, with Pochettino top of the list.
Pochettino signed a new long-term Tottenham deal before the Champions League final and it does not include a release clause for Madrid.
It means that Madrid will have the pleasure of negotiating Pochettino’s exit from Tottenham with Daniel Levy and the 46-year-old admits it would be hard not to acknowledge Madrid’s advances.
“When Real Madrid call you, you have to listen to them. Although in this case it doesn’t depend on me. I have just signed a long contract with Tottenham and I am very happy here,” Pochettino told Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, via The Guardian.
“I am happy at Tottenham because they let me work and we are growing together. Right now I want to focus on planning for next season and keep out of all the things that are being said. There will be lots of rumours, lots of things said, but I have no news from Real Madrid.
“I’m working very comfortably at Tottenham and it’s my obligation to focus on that. I do not want, nor can I, comment on Zidane going but what he has done is undoubtedly very big: no one has won three Champions League in a row recently.”
Pochettino is widely regarded as one of the most highly rated young coaches in Europe after building Tottenham into a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League in recent years.
Since taking over as Tottenham manager in 2014, Pochettino has won 55.5% of his matches in charge of the north London outfit.
