Those who know him say he has never left Real Madrid. True or not, Santiago Solari is one step away from officially returning to the club, to what has been his home for many years.
The Argentinian stepped down as coach of Mexico’s Club America last March and is now close to finalising his return to the club.
Solari joined Real Madrid from Atletico Madrid in 2000 and was a first-team player for five seasons.
Inter was his next destination before returning to Argentina to play for San Lorenzo. Atlante and Penarol were his last teams as a footballer.
He returned to the Real Madrid as a coach in 2013, spending two seasons and a few months with two youth teams, until he took charge of the first team on October 31, 2018, replacing Julen Lopetegui.
Gave absolute confidence to Vinicius
He did not make it to the end of the season and the club turned to Zinedine Zidane as a replacement.
Solari was the first coach to transmit absolute confidence to Vinicius Junior, as well as starting to leave players like Isco, Gareth Bale and Marcelo on the bench.
The Argentinian remained linked to Real Madrid until he received the call from Club America in December 2020 to take charge of the Mexican side, with whom he played in the final of the CONCACAF Champions League against Monterrey.
Solari is considered by the directors of Los Blancos to be a club man, a professional who perfectly represents the values of Real Madrid and they have opened the door for him to return.
Now it remains to be determined the space he will occupy.
