EPL: How Morata, Diego Costa stopped Real Madrid from signing Antonio Conte

Chelsea striker, Alvaro Morata and Atletico Madrid star, Diego Costa reportedly influenced Real Madrid’s back off from appointing former Blues boss, Antonio Conte, as the team’s manager.

This claim was made by respected Italian football expert, Tancredi Palmeri.

Real Madrid had yesterday announced the departure of Julen Lopetegui after just four and a half months in charge.

He was “provisionally replaced” by ex-player and manager of Real Madrid Castilla, Santiago Solari.

Many had expected Conte to step in after he held talks with club president, Florentino Perez.

But Daily Star is now reporting Palmeri to have said that some Spanish players in the Real Madrid dressing room don’t want Conte to replace Lopetegui due to what they have been told by Morata and Costa.

The report claimed that Perez now needs to decide whether to appoint Conte and face a backlash within the Madrid camp, or look at other managerial targets.