Marcello Lippi rejects Real Madrid rumours

Former Italy manager Marcello Lippi has insisted that he will not be replacing Jose Mourinho as manager of Real Madrid.

Lippi, who currently manages Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, has been backed to move to the Spanish capital by Zinedine Zidane, the current director of football at the club.

However, the 64-year-old claims that he is happy in his current role in China.

"Joining Real Madrid at Zidane's advice? It's not true," he told Italian radio station Kiss Kiss. "Not that I dislike being linked with a big club like Real, but there is nothing concrete.

"I read what was said about [president] Florentino Perez and Zidane in the papers, but I have two more years of contract in Guangzhou and I feel good there from all points of view. It hasn't happened yet, but if there was a call, I'm still under contract."

Lippi guided Italy to victory in the World Cup in 2006.