Arsene Wenger responds to Real Madrid links

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he will not return to football until the new year despite Real Madrid parting ways with Julen Lopetegui.

The former Spain boss joined Madrid during the summer but was dismissed on Monday following the club's humiliating 5-1 Clasico defeat to Barcelona. Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino, former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and Belgium boss Roberto Martinez have all been linked with the job while Wenger has distanced himself from the role but insists that he will return to football in 2019. Speaking to TalkSport at the launch of former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein’s ‘Twinning Project’ initiative at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, Wenger said: “Look, I am not the Real Madrid manager, I am here today to support David Dein.

“Overall I don’t know what I will do next year, but I will be back in football and back in sport," said Wenger. “I have huge experience and a huge desire to share what I know about the game and what is important in the game with people who need it. “Where? I don’t know, but only in the New Year.”