Salgado: Benitez to Real is possible

(GSM) – Ex-Real Madrid full-back Michel Salgado believes the Spanish giants could move for Rafa Benitez this summer. The Spaniard, who currently plays for Blackburn, believes Benitez’s great reputation in Spain could land him the job in Madrid.

The Liverpool boss is not stranger to Santiago Bernabeu, having started his non-playing career as coach of the Real Madrid B team. Liverpool’s Benitez have endured a bad season with the Reds failing to challenge for the title and remain outside the top-four as the English Premier League reaches its final weeks.

Benitez has been criticized for his team’s poor form and has been linked with many clubs including Real Madrid and Juventus. Meanwhile the Madrid giants have already been ousted from the European Champions League and the Copa del Rey, a fact which puts Manuel Pellegrini’s post as Real manager in great doubt.

Pellegrini’s future will be in doubt even if he wins the Primera Division as Real Madrid have a history of sacking successful managers. The likes of current England manager Fabio Capello and Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque have been sacked by the Madrid club even after they had won the league.

And should the club sack their Chilean manager, Benitez is expected to be on top of their wish list.

Salgado, played for Real Madrid for 10 years, feels the Anfield chief would be a success in Spain. Salgado reckons Inter Milan’s Jose Mourinho could also feature in Florentino Perez’s manager wish-list.

“Could he (Benitez) take charge of Madrid? Why not?” Salgado told The Sun.

“The opinion on Rafa in Spain is great.

“He won the league twice with Valencia and got them to two Champions League finals.

“First let’s see if Real can win La Liga. I think, though, it will be a big battle between Benitez and Mourinho.”