Real Madrid will choose between Maximilliano Allegri and club legend Raul as their next boss this summer, according to reports, with Zinedine Zidane set to leave.
Sportsmail reported last week that Zidane was set to walk away from the Bernabeu at the end of the campaign - even if he guides the team to the LaLiga title - with the Frenchman feeling he is not backed by chief Florentino Perez.
Raul, who currently coaches the club's Castilla youth team, has been seen as a natural successor to Zidane and Perez will be under pressure to promote him to the senior role, but Allegri has been strongly linked after winning five Serie A titles in a row with Juventus.
Madrid have a 'great decision' to make between Allegri and Raul, according to AS, with the pair the 'two main candidates' to replace Zidane should he depart.
Zidane has not yet told Madrid of his desire to leave, but it is 'almost certain' he will quit, the report adds, saying the club have 'maximum respect' for the coach.
Los Blancos are yet to reach out to Allegri, it adds, with the Italian the favourite in the boardroom to replace Zidane, and will not do so until the boss makes a formal decision about his future.
Allegri has been out of management for nearly two years after a period of huge success in Turin, and has been strongly linked to the hotseats of a number of European giants.
He is favoured by Madrid because of his experience at the highest level, AS says, having previously managed big stars with big egos in the dressing room.
Raul, meanwhile, has 'great knowledge of the club' having played 741 times for the first team - scoring 323 goals and winning 16 to confirm himself as one of the greatest players in their history.
He is impressing in his role at Castilla and has helped develop a host of talented stars such as Antonio Blanco, Victor Chust and Miguel Gutierrez, while the club also like his personality and how he handles the media - the report continues.
With just one game left in the LaLiga season, Madrid face Villarreal in a must-win finale game - with the team two points behind rivals Atletico and needing them to slip up against Valladolid.
Zidane's future will become much clearer after the end of the campaign, and he has been linked with a return to his former club Juventus.
The 48-year-old could also be a target for the France national team should Didier Deschamps leave the post after Euro 2020 this summer.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com