Sergio Scariolo reportedly main candidate to take over Real Madrid / News - Basketnews.com

Real and Scariolo are in advanced negotiations for the next season.

Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix Credit ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix

Current Virtus Segafredo Bologna head coach Sergio Scariolo is currently the frontrunner for Real Madrid's bench for the upcoming season, according to George Zakkas of SDNA.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna / Schedule

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The two sides are in advanced negotiations, via the report.

Zakkas also adds that the Spanish Basketball Federation president Jorge Garbajosa gave the green light for the signing. Garbajosa informed Scariolo that if the Italian specialist is in Madrid, he will be able to more closely monitor the general development of Spanish basketball and that there will be no confrontation from the federation's side.

After winning FIBA EuroBasket 2022, Spain's bench boss Scariolo could not navigate Virtus to EuroLeague playoffs.

The team has had an injury-plagued season and now ranks 14th in the EuroLeague standings with a 13-20 record. Their EuroLeague future is in doubt, which is another factor that pushes Scariolo to test new waters.

Scariolo, 62, arrived in Bologna in 2021. Since that time, he has won the EuroCup and two Italian Supercups.

It could be Sacriolo's second stint in the Spanish capital since he coached Los Blancos from 1999 to 2002.

His 34-year coaching experience also includes stints with such basketball powerhouses as Baskonia, Unicaja, Khimki, Olimpia Milano, and Raptors (assistant).

Scariolo's international achievements speak for themselves. He is a four-time European gold medalist with Spain, a World champion in 2019, and a two-medal winner in the Olympics.

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