Schuster Facing Testing Time At Madrid

Bernd Schuster was on the verge of quitting Real Madrid over the club's summer transfer policy and could yet find himself facing the boot if he further upsets Ramón Calderón.

The pair have had several run-ins over the past year and only the fact that the German coach won the league title saved him from being sacked at the end of last term, according to El Mundo Deportivo.

Calderón opted not to remove Schuster after lifting a trophy like he had done Fabio Capello a year earlier, but is believed to have deliberately ignored the trainer's requests.

Last season, the former Getafe boss upset his new employers with a series of incidents including forgiving Robinho after he returned late and was involved in a scandal in Brazil.

The coach harshly critcised referees in his press conferences and then began to be off-hand and, at times, rude to the media which led to him being booed after one walk-out.

After that incident Calderón warned Schuster that it would not be accepted again and while he controlled himself, Schuster's relationship with pres has been nothing more than cordial.

Over the summer, the chase for Cristiano Ronaldo continued to dominate the papers, but El Mundo Deportivo believe that the trainer knew in advance that now deal would be done.

That was when he asked Calderón and sporting director Predrag Mijatovic for a midfielder, a left winger and a centre forward, only for that to be ignored.

Wesley Sneijder's injury meant that the club had to buy a replacement, but they then did not sign the other players that Schuster asked for and the relationship remains strained.

Only a few weeks into the job last season, Schuster questioned whether he would stay beyond the summer but he begins his second term in charge with his position in the balance.