Pellegrini is heading for the Bernabeu
by David on June 1, 2009
Villarreal general manager Jose Manuel Llaneza has claimed an agreement is in place for Manuel Pellegrini to go to Real Madrid.
Pellegrini announced earlier he had not been contacted by new Real president Florentino Perez about taking charge at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Llaneza has now stated Pellegrini is set to leave his post and replace Juande Ramos.
It is understood negotiations have been progressing for the last few days and the clubs have settled on a 4million euro (£3.5million) compensation fee.
"It is logical that between two clubs that maintain good relations a deal was going to be closed," Llaneza is quoted as saying by AS. "I can state that a provisional agreement has been reached between two clubs that are friendly and even more now that they have a new president. It is, of course, a blow to Villarreal and is a difficult and complicated time for us, but now we will start working on our task of finding a new coach."
Llaneza is confident of bringing in an adequate replacement for Pellegrini, who has been at El Madrigal for five years. He said:
"A great coach is leaving the club through the front door and now we hope that we can find another great coach to replace him."