Before Real Madrid hired Zinedine Zidane to replace Rafa Benitez as manager in 2016, they reached out to Mauricio Pochettino, according to El Larguero on Cadena SER.

Pochettino was called and told to hold off on signing a new contract with Spurs. Pochettino was in the process of extending his contract with Tottenham.

Zidane has since won two Champions League trophies and La Liga while Pochettino has remained one of the best managers in England.