Pochettino happy at Tottenham but hints at Real Madrid interest

Real Madrid has long been linked with appointing Mauricio Pochettino, with the Tottenham manager refusing to rule out a future move.

Mauricio Pochettino looks on against Burnley

Mauricio Pochettino  does not think he has "missed the  Real Madrid  train" but reiterated he is happy to stay at Tottenham.

Pochettino, who signed a contract running to 2023 last year, was strongly linked with the LaLiga giant after the shock resignation of  Zinedine Zidane  following Madrid's third consecutive Champions League title.

After Julen Lopetegui's short reign Pochettino was reportedly again a top target for Madrid president Florentino Perez, but he remained with Spurs.

Zidane is now back at the Santiago Bernabeu after Lopetegui's successor Santiago Solari also failed to see out the season with Madrid, the Frenchman signing a deal to June 2022.

But Pochettino, who has also regularly been connected with  Manchester United,  indicated he believes the chance to manage Madrid may come his way in the future.

"I don't have the feeling that I missed the Madrid train," the Spurs boss said at an event in  Barcelona  on Monday. 

"I don't look at the long term, I'm very happy and I still have four years left on my contract."

Asked directly if Madrid has shown interest in giving him the job, Pochettino replied: "You put me in a compromising position...

"There are always rumours, not only with me but with other colleagues, but 90 per cent are false. I'm very happy at Tottenham."

Last week's Champions League draw paired Spurs with Premier League rival  Manchester City,  which they will now face three times in April.

Manchester United will take on LaLiga leader Barcelona with Pochettino hailing the fine form of captain  Lionel Messi,  who scored a stunning hat-trick in Sunday's 4-1 win at Real Betis.

"Barca have excellent players, extraordinary players and then a genius," Pochettino added of his fellow Argentinian. "He is different, he does things that nobody expects and continues to surprise.

"What surprises is his regularity, his consistency. He does it in every game, every three or four days, during the last 11 or 12 years, leading in the first team.

"I've been lucky to have seen him and I''ve also suffered against him, it's a shame not to have had a player like that on my team."