Barcelona make stunning Coutinho + cash bid, Real Madrid make record bid to sign defender and more La Liga news: 29 May 2019 

Lopetegui set for managerial return

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF - La Liga

Julen Lopetegui is set for a return to management with Sevilla according to reports in Spain. The former Real Madrid manager was sacked early in the season after he failed to impress.

Sevilla are also looking at Ernesto Valverde's situation at Barcelona but if the Catalan side stick with their manager, they have all but agreed a deal with Lopetegui according to reports.

Lopetegui spoke to the media recently and stated that he wasn't given enough time at Madrid. He said:

“The team came from winning the Champions League, but even with Cristiano it had been far behind Barça and Atleti in La Liga. The diagnosis was that I had to improve the team collectively…and whilst it is true that we were on seven points, it was three weeks of bad luck in front of goal, but at 12 months those things would have been balanced.”

“We were very satisfied with the players because of their commitment, with the feeling that they were convinced of what we were doing. Everything in Madrid is very fast and we tried to be consistent with what the team needed, but we did not have time.”