Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has settled on the successor of current coach Zinedine Zidane, whose departure has come too soon if the team's results worsen, the Spanish daily AS reported Tuesday.
Perez spoke to one of his relatives and told him that the former team star and current coach of Real Sociedad, AS said.
Xabi Alonso, his favorite to take over in the event of Zidane's dismissal or termination of the relationship with him by mutual consent.
Perez said he favored Xavi over Real Madrid coach and legend Raul Gonzalez, as the former had a more tactical character and maturity. Several Spanish newspapers traded names such as Italian Massimiliano Alegre and Jose Mourinho to take over after Zidane's expected departure.
AS said that the club will determine the fate of the French coach, who lost a lot of his balance with the fans after the next difficult games, against Sevilla next Sunday, as well as in the Madrid derby against Atletico. Zidane suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat by PSG last Wednesday in the Champions League.