Klopp Set for Real Madrid Job as Kroos Intervention Overshadows Mourinho Challenge

The Spanish giants appear ready to turn to Jurgen Klopp as their next managerial appointment, with the former Liverpool tactician reportedly prepared to take the reins at the Santiago Bernabéu should an official proposal arrive.

Real Madrid have endured a campaign that falls well short of their customary standards, with La Liga's elite outfit facing the prospect of finishing without a major trophy. The situation came to a head in January when Florentino Pérez dispensed with Xabi Alonso's services following their Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona, amid whispers of tactical discord and selection grievances within the squad.

Álvaro Arbeloa stepped into the breach, though his status—whether permanent fixture or caretaker until summer—remained deliberately ambiguous. What is now clear is that a fresh face will helm the club come the new season, with two names dominating the conversation.

Klopp and current Benfica manager José Mourinho have emerged as the principal contenders, though the narrative has shifted considerably in recent weeks. Earlier reports suggesting Mourinho held Pérez's favour appeared to have dealt Klopp's prospects a significant blow. Spanish media outlets, citing journalist Josep Pedrerol, now insist the tide has turned decisively in the German's direction.

According to these reports, Klopp views the Madrid project as genuinely compelling and stands ready to accept an offer should the board make its formal move. The former Liverpool boss is understood to find the club's sporting vision sufficiently appetising to justify the move.

Intriguingly, Toni Kroos—the German midfield maestro who continues his association with Madrid—appears to have played a decisive role in this shift of momentum. The ex-Bayern and Real Madrid midfielder is said to have positioned himself as a bridge between the dressing room and boardroom, championing Klopp as the ideal architect for the club's next chapter.

According to the reports, Kroos believes Klopp's grasp of German football and his established rapport with the coach could prove instrumental in implementing a fresh tactical approach. His influence has reportedly swung matters in Klopp's favour.

Not everyone at the Bernabéu shares this enthusiasm, however. Fernando Morientes, a club legend, has publicly advocated for a different path entirely. Speaking to COPE this week, the former striker made a compelling case for Raúl—the youth academy product who departed the club to Morientes' evident bewilderment.

"Which coach would I propose to the club? The one I proposed at the beginning of last season, the one who was in the youth academy last year, Raúl," Morientes explained. "If you're going to give someone young a chance... Look, first you have to develop a project for a coach: understand the coach, know how he plays, and know if the players you have will work for that coach. Why did Arbeloa get pushed ahead of Raúl? Well, I have no idea, it surprised me a lot. Raúl's departure from the club really surprised me."