27 May 2010

Madrid set to get the Special One

7:08 pm on 27 May 2010

Real Madrid have sacked coach Manuel Pellegrini, with the Spanish football giants set to turn to Inter Milan's Jose Mourinho as his replacement.

The decision was announced by club president Florentino Perez.

Mourinho is expected to head to the Bernabeu after winning the Champions League there with Inter on Sunday.

Inter president Massimo Moratti is resigned to losing the 47-year-old former Chelsea boss to the Spaniards.

Earlier this week Moratti suggested Mourinho's departure would be a protracted affair but by sacking Pellegrini, Real have made their intentions abundantly clear.

Mourinho has often said he wants to manage in Spain and has cited the fact that no manager has ever won championships in England, Italy and Spain.

Pellegrini has been under pressure after failing to win a trophy this year.

Real were pipped to the Primera Liga title by Barcelona and were knocked out of both the Champions' League and the Spanish Cup.