Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has joined the list of candidates to succeed Álvaro Arbeloa as Real Madrid manager next season, according to Cadena COPE.
President Florentino Pérez is considering several options in the coaching market, including José Mourinho, to personally select the leader of the new project at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Scaloni, who led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, is the latest option to emerge on Pérez’s shortlist. It is reported that Real Madrid officials have been in contact with the coach in recent days to explore the possibility of him taking on his first coaching role in Spain.
Pérez believes that Scaloni’s success with Argentina demonstrates his ability to manage a high-stakes, star-studded dressing room like Real Madrid’s, and that he has consistently demonstrated his tactical acumen over the past five years.
Scaloni’s response to the Real Madrid coaching offer remains unknown, and it is widely believed that the coach prefers to wait until after the 2026 World Cup before making a final decision about his future with the Albiceleste, given that his contract expires at the end of this year.
Scaloni had previously hinted at the possibility of leaving Argentina after the World Cup, especially since the tournament will mark Lionel Messi’s final appearance for his country, and the coach has a very close relationship with the Argentine star.
It is worth noting that the 47-year-old coach worked as an assistant to Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla between 2016 and 2017, and also with Argentina at the 2018 World Cup, before taking over as head coach of his national team.
Since then, Scaloni has led Argentina in 92 matches, winning four titles: the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa America, as well as the Finalesma Cup against Italy in 2022.
