Real Madrid considering Conte after missing out on Allegri

Antonio Conte is being considered as Zinedine Zidane’s successor at Real Madrid after they missed out on first-choice Max Allegri, according to Sky in Italy.

After Zinedine Zidane stepped down from the Bernabeu for a second time this week, the Spanish giants had been hoping to appoint long-term target Allegri – but he is set for a sensational return to Juventus to replace Andrea Pirlo.

They have now turned to Conte, who is a free agent after parting company Inter Milan on Wednesday despite leading them to the Serie A title, due to a need to make significant financial cuts.

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Conte is a prolific title-winner with Juventus himself, as well as Chelsea and this season Inter.

Allegri’s agent was in Madrid on Tuesday but, for the second time in his career, he has turned Real down in favour of a second spell with his former club.

Ex-Juventus star Zidane called time on his second spell in charge of the La Liga club after failing to win a trophy this season, following two league titles and three Champions League victories since he began his first spell at the helm in 2015.

Zidane told club directors and the first-team squad of his decision on Wednesday and finalised his exit at Real’s Valdebebas training complex on Thursday.

His departure comes after Real narrowly lost out on the league title to city rivals Atletico Madrid at the weekend. Real finished second in La Liga, two points behind Atletico, and were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage and the Copa del Rey in the round of 32 to end the season without a trophy for the first time in 11 years.