Lopetegui dismisses Real link

Julen Lopetegui said he has no interest in becoming coach of Real Madrid, with the Porto boss “very happy” in Portugal.

Former Spain U-21 coach Lopetegui, 48, is reportedly in consideration to replace Carlo Ancelotti at the end of the season, with Real adrift of arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga.

Lopetegui has spent less than a year in charge of the Primeira Liga giants but his stock has increased dramatically since leaving Spain’s youth team to take the reins at Porto, who stunned Bayern Munich 3-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie midweek.

“This news does not interest me. I am very happy to be the coach of Porto,” said Lopetegui.

“[I am] very happy for the three-year project that I have here. Tomorrow [Saturday] we have a very important match.”

Porto welcome Academica to Estadio do Dragao on Saturday, looking to close the gap on rivals Benfica, who top the standings by three points after 28 rounds.