Roberto Martinez should be named the next Real Madrid manager, according to Jorge Valdano.

The 13-time European Cup winners parted ways with Julen Lopetegui on Monday following the humiliating clasico defeat to Barcelona on Sunday.

Antonio Conte appeared to be leading the race to succeed him but late complications could yet see another candidate take on the role.

Valdano, a former manager and sporting director at the Bernabeu believes the Belgium boss is the right choice to do so.

Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Show all 9 1 /9 Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Who will be the next Real Madrid manager? We take a look at the latest odds. Getty Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Santiago Solari - 8/15 Another likely candidate is Real Madrid Castilla manager Santiago Getty Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Antonio Conte - 3/1 The former Chelsea boss is overwhelming favourite to come in and shake up the dressing room Getty Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Mauricio Pochettino 4/1 Mauricio Pochettino remains Real Madrid's long term target Getty Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Arsene Wenger - 8/1 Arsene Wenger recently revealed he had multiple offers to chose from and expects to be in management in 2019 Getty Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Guti - 25/1 Guit has experience as a player and a youth coach at Real Madrid, and the club could be tempted to follow a similar model that brought them success with Zinedine Zidane Getty Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Laurent Blanc - 33/1 Laurent Blanc won three Ligue 1 titles at Paris Saint-Germain Getty Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Joachim Low - 33/1 It's unlikely that Real Madrid will take another punt on an international coach, but Joachim Low has the experience to guide Real Madrid back into the right direction AFP/Getty Candidates to replace Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid Jose Mourinho - Rank outsider... The Manchester United manager is under increasing pressure at Old Trafford and could be tempted to return to Real Madrid Getty

"[Appointing Martinez] seems the best idea to me. A coach that could turn things around. He seems more adaptable than Conte," he told radio station Onda Cero.

"Conte has prestige because he's won in various countries, but Roberto [would] adapt to this team. It's not an easy job because there's no regular goalscorer."

Sunday's defeat at the Nou Camp leaves the club ninth in La Liga, seven points behind leaders Barca.

Lopetegui, who was named Real manager days before he was preparing to lead Spain into this summer's World Cup, won four of his 10 league games in charge.

Their last league win was a 1-0 win over Espanyol on September 22 and has been followed by four defeats and a draw.

Madrid were also beaten 1-0 by CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, where they are joint leaders with Roma in Group G with six points from three games.

Martinez is currently in charge of the Belgian national team (EPA)

Former Chelsea boss Conte appeared a near certainty to replace Lopetegui ​but reports began to emerge on Monday afternoon suggesting that the deal was becoming more complicated, and that Santiago Solari would be taking interim charge at the very least.