Reason Why Pochettino Rejected Real Madrid Links Revealed
The Spurs boss recognises the importance of loyalty.
The Daily Mail have reported that Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino turned down the chance to become Real Madrid's new manager over fears he'd be labelled a mercenary.
Mere days after inking a multi-million pound five-year contract extension with Spurs, Poch was discreetly offered the reigns at the Santiago Bernabéu. Knowing how the press would react if he jumped at the chance so soon after signing a new deal in London, the Argentinian knocked it back.
Pochettino's new contract at Spurs is worth £8.5 million per year, and that figure makes him one of the club's best-paid employees. Chairman Daniel Levy has also shown a lot of faith in his manager's abilities despite a lack of trophies in return, and that (along with his hefty salary) was allegedly in the back of Pochettino's mind.
The hierarchy in Madrid remain keen to install Zinedine Zidane's successor quickly. Concurrent reports suggest top players at Real, including captain Sergio Ramos, had named Pochettino as one of the best candidates to fill the vacancy.
Loyalty proved important to Poch, so much so that he was willing to forgo his dream job to stay put at Spurs.