Julian Nagelsmann: Why I Turned Downs Real Madrid Talks

RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann has explained why he did not entertain discussions about taking over at Real Madrid.

Nagelsmann made a name for himself with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga when the club finished third in the 2017/18 season and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.

Los Blancos were on the look out for a new manager following Zinedine Zidane's surprise departure after a winning a third straight UEFA Champions League title in 2018.

Nagelsmann was said to be a possible candidate for the Real job after impressing with Hoffenheim, but he eventually ended joining RB Leipzig.

"I said that it made no sense at the time," he told Sport Bild.

"It would only have been three weeks until the start of training, I could barely speak Spanish.

"That would not have been enough for me or Madrid."

Real ended up appointing Julen Lopetegui, who only lasted 183 days in the job after a 5-1 loss to fierce rivals FC Barcelona.

4) Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur) – €17.52 million

10) Thomas Tuchel (Paris Saint-Germain) – €9.6 million

9) Antoino Conte (Inter Milan) – €10.8 million

8) Brendan Rodgers (Leicester City) – €12 million

7) Fabio Cannavaro (Guangzhou Evergrande) – €12 million

6) Rafael Benitez (Dalian Yifang) – €13.8 million

5) Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) – €16.8 million

3) Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) – €17.52 million

2) Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) – €23.28 million

1) Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid) – €43.6 million

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