It looks increasingly likely that Fabio Capello’s as Real Madrid coach are numbered-regardless of whether he manages to steer Los Merengues to the 2008 La Liga title this season. According to various reports, Real is keen to sign either Getafe’s Bernd Schuster or Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho to replace the Italian, who’s had an inconsistent and controversial first season in charge of the Spanish giant.
The German news agency DPA reports that Getafe’s Schuster has actually agreed a pre-contractual arrangement with the club in which he would receive $1.34 million if Real decides not to sign him. Conversely, Schuster would have to pay the club the same sum if he decided to take another offer. Schuster is a former player for both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The DPA report claims that Schuster is currently at the top of Real’s off-season shopping list, followed by Mourinho and Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez, but the Spanish paper AS claims that super-agent Jorge Mendes is trying to broker a deal that would bring both Mourinho and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu. Ronaldo, who tops the Spanish giant’s player list, and the Chelsea manager are both clients of Mendes. Mourinho is believed to be keen on a move to Real.