Real Madrid have confirmed the sacking of head coach Julen Lopetegui.
President Florentino Perez called an emergency meeting with his board for Monday evening after yesterday’s 5-1 defeat at Barcelona at Camp Nou, where the former Spain coach's fate was sealed.
Real Madrid face Melilla in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night and Castilla coach Santiago Solari will take charge of that match, while the Argentine could also be on the bench for Saturday’s La Liga clash against Valladolid.
In the meantime, Spanish station Onda Cero have reported that Antonio Conte will now not be joining Real, with other outlets echoing that information.
The broadcaster claims negotiations with the former Chelsea manager have broken down, although the reasons are unclear at this stage.
It has been claimed that Conte’s legal issue with Chelsea is behind the impasse, with the former Juventus and Italy boss reportedly not willing to give up on the compensation he is seeking from the Blues in order to tie up a deal with Real.
Another theory is that he is not wanted by the players at the Santiago Bernabeu. Skipper Sergio Ramos hinted after the Barca defeat that he did not want the Italian to take over, saying “respect is earned and not imposed”, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois did not end on good terms with the 49-year-old at Stamford Bridge.
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What Lopetegui said after Sunday's El Clasico defeat
“We had a moment to be able to turn things around,” he said. “In the first half, they were better and in the second we changed things with [Raphael] Varane’s injury.
"It wasn’t to be and there were some more unfortunate things. The punishment is excessive.
“In the first half, we can reproach not having had more of the ball. But if you don’t score after that, you have to go into an open tomb. The game finished for us with the 3-1 [goal].”
“I’m sad, as is the dressing room,” he said. “I have strength, it’s a tough blow, really hard. But I have strength and confidence in the group. The team is alive.
“As coach I have to accept it and try to improve this team. The team has a future this season.”
“We know how the world of football works,” the coach said when asked if he would be the one to pay for Madrid’s painful loss at Camp Nou.
