Samir Nasri

Former Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini has criticised the approach of his former club with regard to Rafa Benitez, who recently lost his job after just six months in charge of the team.

Many feel that Benitez was not given enough time to show his true colours at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Pellegrini is not surprised since Madrid have always been a tough club to deal with on a political level. The control of the club resides with the president, who does not think twice about changing a manager when results do not go according to plan.

Pellegrini fared only slightly better than Benitez at the Spanish club. He lasted 12 months rather than just six. He claims that he knew he was going to be out of the job just weeks after coming to the club. Pellegrini is reportedly in discussions with Madrid over the possibility of signing midfielder Isco. The Spaniard has been out of favour under Benitez. He may be recalled to the first-team on a regular basis by new manager Zinedine Zidane, but City are expected to take advantage of the current situation by signing the unhappy player. The arrival of Isco is likely to challenge the position of Samir Nasri in the team.

The Frenchman has been on the fringes of first-team action this season after featuring in only 230 minutes of league football.“At least I finished the year. I knew from the beginning I was not to continue for the next year.There were some important differences with the president but it is not strange when you see what happened in Real Madrid in the last five or six years.I am sorry about Rafa Benitez because I think he is a manager that deserves respect but it is not strange what happened at Real Madrid,” said Pellegrini.