Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino - a target for Real Madrid - was spotted leaving a London restaurant on Tuesday night shortly after David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane. In pictures published by The Sun, the Argentine was seen wearing a navy puffer jacket and jeans as he left, with Beckham - who also brought along his old pal Dave Gardner - and Zidane leaving later. It is understood that Real Madrid legends Beckham and Zidane enjoyed dinner together. Pochettino was not with them, but did come over to greet the pair. Mauricio Pochettino (left) was pictured leaving the same London restaurant as former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane (right) on Tuesday night Ex-Real midfielder David Beckham enjoyed dinner with Zidane at Locanda Locatelli Pochettino and his assistant manager Jesus Perez say farewell on Tuesday evening It heightens fears from Spurs fans that their boss may be off this summer, with the Spanish giants considering a big appointment. Pochettino is at the top of their hitlist. Another of Beckham's former clubs Manchester United are also monitoring his situation, although their resurgence under caretaker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer means they may pull out of the race. Zidane has also been a target to take over at Old Trafford since Jose Mourinho's sacking in December. Zidane smiles as he leaves the restaurant in London in the rain on Tuesday evening Beckham leaves the restaurant after dining with Zidane and speaking to Pochettino Pochettino and Beckham battling for the ball during their playing careers in an international tie The Tottenham manager and Zidane embracing after a Champions League game in 2017 Pochettino's assistant manager Jesus Perez was also pictured leaving the swanky Locanda Locatelli restaurant in central London. Beckham and Zidane played alongside each other for three seasons between 2003 and 2006 at Real Madrid during the club's ultimate Galactico era. The pair have remained firm friends ever since, with Zidane managing Real to three back-to-back Champions League wins before quitting last summer. Santiago Solari is currently in charge at the Bernabeu, although he is not expected to last beyond the end of the season. Tottenham have managed to hold on to Pochettino since his arrival in 2014, during which time he has elevated them into Premier League title contenders and Champions League regulars. The former Real boss has remained friends with Beckham since they played together Tottenham face a significant battle to keep hold of manager Pochettino over the summer They desperately want him to remain in charge next season when they will be running out in their new stadium. However, it appears they face an increasing battle with Real Madrid for his services. Spurs are believed to be more fearful of losing Pochettino to Real than they are United. Asked in December whether he had grown tired of the chatter around him leaving, Pochettino said: 'No, no. Why? This type of news I think does not upset or bore people. 'I prefer that newspapers talk about things like this than talk about "Tottenham is going to sack me" or "people are tired of me" or "we are in a difficult situation". 'Of course, if I choose one situation I choose this one. I am not bored of it, of course.' The Argentine has previously joked about Daniel Levy being 'concerned' about him leaving He signed a five-year contract in May and has publicly joked about chairman Daniel Levy being 'concerned' about him potentially departing. 'Daniel does not laugh,' he said. 'I know it gets boring but he maybe is worried, he is concerned. It is normal. It is not nice for Daniel to hear all that history of course. 'Do I have to reassure him? No. It is like in football when the sporting director or president says "No, the manager is going to be here and we trust in him" and next game... OUT. If you reassure something it is because you are thinking different things. 'He is a worried man because he is jealous about me! It's normal, no, because of the rumours.'<doc-sep>MAURICIO POCHETTINO denied he was having a secret dinner date with David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane this week - insisting they bumped into each other by “coincidence”. The trio were spotted together at swanky London restaurant Locanda Locatelli, reigniting rumours that Pochettino could be off to Real Madrid. 3 Mauricio Pochettino claims his meeting with Zinedine Zidane was a 'coincidence' Credit: BackGrid But the Tottenham boss said the dinner was not planned, insisting he was dining with his assistant Jesus Perez and a pal when they spotted ex-Bernabeu team-mates Beckham and ZZ on another table. Poch, speaking ahead of Spurs’ clash with Leicester on Sunday, said: “I was with Jesus and another person, we were three and there was a table, we met by coincidence and that is all there was to it. “Only we say hello because we met by coincidence there but then the story appears and how do you stop it? But that is reality. “Was it a surprise to see them? Yes, Jesus said, 'Look in the corner who it is', then I saw these two people with two people more. 3 David Beckham was seen arriving at the same restaurant Credit: BackGrid 3 Ex-Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was also seen arriving at the restaurant Credit: BackGrid “We finished, nearly at the same time, he came to say hello and we spent two minutes talking together and then we split. We went back home.” Reports claimed the trio tried to leave through the kitchens after being spotted, but he said: “No that’s not correct.” Meanwhile, Harry Kane has provided Pochettino with a major boost in their title hopes by returning to fitness three weeks ahead of schedule. England captain Kane had been ruled out until the middle of March after suffering an ankle ligament injury in the defeat to Manchester United.<doc-sep>Pochettino: Bumping into Beckham and Zidane was ‘coincidence’ HERE for the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign upfor the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The story sent Manchester United fans wild, sparking speculation that the meeting was something to do with the fact both bosses are linked to the permanent managerial position at Old Trafford. The trio were seen leaving the Locanda Locatelli near Hyde Park just three minutes apart. Pochettino was the clear frontrunner for the job after the sacking of Jose Mourinho but after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s impressive start at the helm it now looks as if he could stay at Tottenham beyond the end of this season. The Argentine was visiting the restaurant with his assistant manager Jesus Perez. Zidane and Beckham who are of course former Real Madrid team-mates were joined by Beckham’s friend Dave Gardner. Both parties left via a back door to avoid drawing attention to themselves but that didn’t stop them from being snapped on camera. Now Pochettino has taken the chance to clear up the situation and what really happened in the West End eatery. “Yes it was very nice,” he said. Tottenham news: Pochettino dined at the same restaurant as Zidane Tottenham news: Pochettino and Zidane were not together but did greet each other Tottenham news: Zidane and Beckham are good friends from their time in Madrid “I was with Jesus and another person. We were three and that is all the history. “Only we say hello because we met by coincidence. Yes, but it was Jesus who told me look in the corner and I turned and it was these two people. “We finished at the same time, he came to say hello and we spent two minutes talking and we split and went home.” The former Southampton boss has insisted his side will have to win all of their games to have a shot of winning the title. “To win the title we need to win all the games. I think there is a five point gap still with the top and the idea is to try and win and go step by step,” he added. “For us the most important game is Sunday, but we are disappointed with the Premier League because we aren’t getting help because it’s clear it’s a disadvantage to play with one less to prepare for the Champions League and so difficult when you have a clear week. “Why not play today, or Saturday when you have a big game against Borussia Dortmund. “You can’t do too much because players involved on Sunday need to recover and that is massive and difficult to understand I don’t like to complain but that’s a situation I think the Premier League must care about teams that are involved in very important comps like Champions League.”<doc-sep>
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino insists that eating dinner at the same restaurant as David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane this week was coincidental, amid speculation linking him with Real Madrid. Pochettino was photographed on Tuesday evening leaving a London restaurant around the same time as the former Real duo, who spent three years and won the Spanish Super Cup together at the Bernabeu. Pochettino's success at Spurs has seen him linked with various jobs at Europe's biggest clubs, most prominently Manchester United and Real ahead of a summer in which both clubs are expected to make new permanent appointments. Image: David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane were team-mates at Real Madrid But the Spurs boss said: "I was with Jesus (Perez) and another person. We were three. "We met by coincidence with you know (Beckham and Zidane) and that is all the history. We only said hello because we met by coincidence there, but then the story appears and how do you stop (it)? Live Renault Super Sunday "That is the reality. We nearly finished at the same time. He came to say hello and we spent two minutes talking together and then we split." After many had ruled Spurs out of the Premier League title race, three consecutive victories have seen them close to within five points of Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the table. Tottenham will attempt to keep their winning run going when they face Leicester on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. Image: Pochettino has guided Spurs to within five points of the top of the Premier League "We are there, third in the table," Pochettino said of his side's title hopes. "For us it's going to be to win the three points Sunday to be involved until the end. "That is our objective, to be involved to the end, to be a realistic contender and have the possibility in the last five games to be there, to try to make (it) possible to be contenders."