Real Madrid were on the lookout for someone to replace Zinedine Zidane after he quit in the wake of the Champions League final victory over Liverpool in Kiev.
President Florentino Perez ended up poaching Spain boss Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup, leading to the manager being sacked by his country just days before the tournament got underway.
Lopetegui failed in the role and was binned by Perez following the 5-1 El Clasico hammering at Barcelona last month.
And it’s now emerged he was never Real’s first-choice.
Journalist Duncan Castles revealed on last week’s episode of The Transfer Window podcast that Pochettino was actually the man he was after.
Castles said: “Pochettino wanted the job in the summer, he was offered the job, accepted it and Daniel Levy prevented it from happening.
“You have to take from all of that that he’s very much a Real candidate and still the No.1 candidate from Madrid’s perspective to be the next permanent manager of Real Madrid.”
Pochettino signed a new long-term contract with Spurs in May, which ties him to the club until 2023.
“Pochettino wanted the job in the summer, he was offered the job, accepted it and Daniel Levy prevented it from happening” Duncan Castles.
“I am honoured to have signed a new long-term contract as we approach one of the most significant periods in the club’s history and be the manager that will lead this team into our new world-class stadium,” the Argentine said when the deal was announced.
“This is a special club – we always strive to be creative in the way we work both on and off the pitch and will continue to stick to our principles in order to achieve the success this club deserves.”
But it believed that Pochettino could yet be tempted away from north London to replace caretaker boss Santiago Solari long-term.Only time will tell and time what Real Madrid don’t have right now.