Mourinho's move closer as Real axe Pellegrini

REAL Madrid have parted company with coach Manuel Pellegrini, paving the way for Jose Mourinho to take over. Pellegrini was midway through a two-year contract with the Spanish giants but paid the penalty for an unsuccessful first season in charge at the Bernabeu.

Madrid, despite spending around 250 million in bringing in the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso last summer, suffered their second successive trophy-less campaign.

Madrid president Florentino Perez announced the news at a press conference last night at the Bernabeu following a board meeting. Perez also announced their intention to appoint Mourinho as the next coach of Madrid once his contractual situation with Inter Milan has been resolved.

"We have dedicated the last few weeks to analysing and reflecting upon the past season. And we have decided to bring to an end Manuel Pellegrini's time at the club," said Perez. "We want to thank him and his team for their hard work, professionalism and conduct.

"The board also agreed to contract Jose Mourinho as the new coach of Real Madrid once his contractual relationship with Inter Milan has been resolved."

Pellegrini took charge of Madrid as part of last summer's massive overhaul following the return of Perez to the presidency. The Chilean had previously been in charge of Villarreal, who he helped make one of Spain's best clubs even though he failed to win any major trophies during his five years at El Madrigal.

Pellegrini had a decent start to life in the Bernabeu hotseat, winning his first six Primera Division and Champions League games. However, things started to go wrong in October when they lost to Sevilla in La Liga and AC Milan in Europe before suffering a humiliating exit to third-tier Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey. For the sixth successive year they fell at the last-16 stage in the Champions League and then finished three points behind Barcelona in La Liga.