Real confirm Pellegrini departure

Real Madrid have confirmed the dismissal of coach Manuel Pellegrini and expect to install Jose Mourinho as his replacement.

Speculation over the Bernabeu hot-seat has been rife over recent weeks, with Mourinho's European exploits with Inter Milan prompting Real to swoop for his services.

The Italian champions won the UEFA Champions League with a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday and Real president Florentino Perez sees Mourinho as the man to land his club their tenth European Cup.

"We are convinced that we need a fresh impulse and we are convinced that Jose Mourinho is the right person to take on the job," Perez said.

"There is nobody on the board who has given an opinion against the signing of Jose Mourinho, on the contrary, they are enthusiastic at being able to recruit one of the best coaches in the world."

Despite accumulating 96 points and scoring 102 goals in the Primera Division, Madrid were pipped to the Spanish title by fierce rivals Barcelona this season.

Finishing the season empty-handed, a second-round exit from the Champions League to Lyon did little for Pellegrini's chances of remaining in charge.

Imminent arrival

All that stands in the way of Mourinho's move to the Spanish capital is contract negotiations between Real and Inter, who will be entitled to €16million (£13.5million) compensation for his services.

The former Chelsea boss is relaxed about the move and will holiday while the two clubs thrash out an agreement, and he can foresee no problems ahead of the talks.

"Now I'm on holidays, then I'll go to work in Spain," the Portuguese coach admitted.

"With Inter it's not yet over, but everything is going well and there are no problems," he said, while admitting his chances of staying in Italy are "impossible."