Benitez plays down Real Madrid link

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Rafael Benitez has played down speculation he is ready to take over at Real Madrid in the summer.

The Spaniard is expected to leave Chelsea when his spell as interim manager finishes at the end of the season.

He has been touted as a possible replacement for former Blues boss Jose Mourinho at the Bernabéu, where Benitez began his playing career.

Benitez was reported to have described the La Liga giants as his “sweetheart”, increasing rumours that he could be in line for the Real job.

But he insisted the comment, taken from an interview with a Spanish radio station, was mistranslated.

“We know that when we talk in Spain the translation always changes something,” he said.

“I didn’t say ‘sweetheart’. I didn’t say that. You can go to my website [www.rafabenitez.com] and you can see in English what I said.

“I have a lot of respect for Real Madrid because they have a manager in place and I have to concentrate on Chelsea and do my best for Chelsea.”

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