John Giles has urged Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino to accept the manager's job at Real Madrid should they Spanish side come calling.
Madrid are on the lookout for a new manager after sacking Julen Lopetegui earlier this week, and reports suggest that Pochettino is the number one candidate on their shortlist of managers.
Lopetegui was sacked four months into the role, with Madrid struggling in ninth position in the league, and Giles believes the Tottenham manager is sounding out a return to Spain. "I think he is making all the noises towards a move to Real Madrid after saying this is the lowest he has felt in five years," said the former Irish international.
It is also understood that Real Madrid's club president Florentino Perez is a huge admirer of the Tottenham boss, and believes he can turn things around at the Bernabeu after a poor start to the season.
While it has never been confirmed, it is thought that the Champions League holders approached Pochettino in the summer after Zinedine Zidane stepped down from the club, but Giles is very skeptical about whether or not he turned down any approach from Madrid. "I wonder did he actually say no," said Giles. "I'd be surprised if that was true, but it's no coincidence that they have just sacked their manager and there's already talk of him getting the job," he added.
Giles also feels now would be a good time for the Argentine to leave Spurs as the problems mount up within the club. He said; "The stadium is a big problem at the moment and they haven't brought in any players, and nowadays you need a big squad to compete."
"They (Tottenham) were never going to be spending money, and he had a right go at the club about that at the end of last season saying 'we've got to be brave and spend some money' and that never happened," he added.
Should Los Blancos make their move, Giles thinks it will be difficult to pull Pochettino away from Spurs due to their shrewd chairman Daniel Levy. "The chairman is a very smart businessman for tying him down to a new contract," he said before adding; "I'm only guessing but I think if he (Pochettino) could go to Madrid now, he would and if I was his adviser, I'd advise him to go."
Pochettino is now in his fifth season with the North London side and is yet to win any trophies at the club, but it remains to be seen how much longer he'll be in charge with Madrid keeping a close eye on the situation.
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