Rafael Benitez looks set to be unveiled as the coach of Real Madrid after leaving Napoli last week.
The former Valencia manager with whom he managed to win two La Liga titles was pictured leaving the Marina di Castello hotel on Monday Morning, hours after a 4-2 defeat to Lazio at home ended Napoli’s hopes of securing Champions League football next season.
According to the Spanish newspaper AS, Benítez flew to Madrid to finalise the details of his contract at the Santiago Bernabéu, where he is expected to be unveiled on Wednesday morning.
“I am ready. I can’t wait to be there,” was quoted to be saying by the newspaper.
Benitez a former Real Madrid player in his hey days, spent most of his playing career with Madrid’s B team before being appointed as the club’s youth team coach aged just 27.
On Saturday, Real Madrid’s vice-president, Eduardo Fernandez de Bla, strongly hinted that Benítez was on his way to take over from Ancelotti.
“Carlo Ancelotti is a phenomenon,” he said at a Madrid fans’ meeting. “He was the best coach in the world, just as José Mourinho was two years ago and, from this week, Benítez will be.”
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