Pochettino: 'You have to listen' when Real Madrid calls

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino acknowledged he would "have to listen" if Real Madrid approached him to discuss filling the void after Zinedine Zidane's shocking departure.

The Spanish side is in the early stages of searching for a new manager following Zidane's announcement Thursday, just five days after Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 to win the Champions League for the third year in a row.

Speculation about Zidane's replacement quickly followed, with various outlets reporting that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has identified Pochettino as the ideal candidate.

Pochettino, who's fresh off signing a new five-year contract with Tottenham, would be open to dialogue with Real Madrid, but insists that he's focusing on preparations ahead of his fifth season in north London.

"When Real Madrid call you, you have to listen to them," Pochettino told Spanish outlet El Confidencial, as translated by Sid Lowe of the Guardian. "Although in this case, it doesn’t depend on me. I have just signed a long contract with Tottenham and I am very happy here."

"Right now I want to focus on planning for next season and keep out of all the things that are being said," he added.

"I'm working very comfortably at Tottenham and it’s my obligation to focus on that. I do not want, nor can I, comment on Zidane going but what he has done is undoubtedly very big: No one has won three Champions Leagues in a row recently."

Tottenham is said to be adamant that Pochettino's new contract does not include a release clause to join Los Blancos, despite reports from Spain suggesting otherwise.

If Real Madrid fails to lure its apparent first-choice to the Santiago Bernabeu, the club will reportedly shift and attempt to sign Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri, according to The Telegraph's Luke Edwards. Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is viewed as another possibility, though it's believed the Frenchman will only be a fall-back option.