Rafael Benítez looks set to be unveiled as Real Madrid’s new coach this week after leaving Napoli.
The former Liverpool manager was pictured leaving the Marina di Castelo hotel on Monday morning, hours after a 4-2 defeat at home to Lazio 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,” he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
Benítez, who will replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real, 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.”
