Brazil coach Tite labels story linking him to Real Madrid a "lie" and unworthy of his respect

Sport360 staff 23:18 10/06/2018
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  • Tite had considered calling Vinicius up for the World Cup

    The Real Madrid manager’s vacancy is the most coveted job in football right now – unless of course you’re Brazil boss Tite.

    The 57-year-old has been in charge of Canarinho since 2016 and leads them into this summer’s World Cup in Russia as one of the favourites to lift the Jules Rimet trophy.

    And the Brazil coach insists he is very happy in his role and has slammed a report in the Brazilian media linking him to the vacant Madrid job, calling the story a “lie” and saying it was unworthy of his respect.

    “When it is an opinion, it deserves my respect; posted as a quote, it’s a lie,” Tite said on the eve of his side’s game with Austria in Vienna on Sunday – the Samba Boys dancing to a 3-0 win in their final warm-up match ahead of their World Cup opener against Switzerland on June 17.

    “The attitude is disrespectful and untrue. I haven’t had contact with anyone, Gilmar Veloz, my friend, hasn’t spoken with anyone, and I have great respect for the position I’m in, the job that I have.

    “Be very careful, this person, this reporter, he was, in his information, a liar.”

    Tite has been a revelation since taking over from previous boss Dunga back in June of 2016. The former Copa Libertadores and Club World Cup winner lifted a flagging Brazil from sixth in World Cup qualifying to finishing 10 points clear atop the CONMEBOL table, making them one of the hot favourites to lift a record-extending sixth title in Russia.

    The former Corinthians coach was asked in Austria about the report of Real’s desire to hire him, and he shot back, guaranteeing there has been no contact with him or his agent, Veloz, in relation to the possibility of him replacing Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu.

    Tite added: “I am in the best place in football, where everyone wants to be. And don’t come to me saying I’m being politically correct.”

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