Real Madrid have Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery on their list of potential replacements for interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa, who has endured an unconvincing temporary spell in charge since his mid-season appointment.
Emery is one of the candidates for next Los Blancos boss
Real Madrid has been linked with multiple head coaches in recent months, including the prospect of former boss Jose Mourinho making a sensational return to the Spanish capital.
However, it seems that the Real Madrid hierarchy thinks well of Emery. The 54-year-old has done an excellent job at Aston Villa, transforming the Villans from strugglers into a side consistently challenging for Champions League spots in the Premier League.
Despite a woeful start to the campaign, Villa are fifth-place in the Premier League table, likely to seal Champions League football once again. The Villans are also in the Europa League semi-finals, facing Nottingham Forest on Thursday night in the second leg after losing 1-0 in the first leg.
Emery made his name as a head coach in his homeland with the likes of Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal, winning the Europa League on four occasions, three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.
The Spaniard also led PSG to the Ligue 1 title in 2018, among other silverware, during his time in the French capital.
Tempted by a move to the Spanish capital
Reports from the Spanish media suggest that Emery could be tempted by a return to his homeland this summer. One deciding factor in deciding Emery’s future may be Villa’s ability to compete financially, even if the Villans, as expected, seal a place in the Champions League.
Emery wouldn’t have the same problem at Real Madrid. A move to Madrid would give the Spaniard the chance to once again manage at the elite level and win the big trophies, which he is unlikely to be able to achieve with the Midlands club.