What happened
Fabrizio Romano reports Villarreal are waiting on Iñigo Pérez to become their next head coach after the club qualified for next season's Champions League. Pérez is the clear favorite and ready to take over, but out of respect for current club Rayo Vallecano he wants to focus on their Conference League final first.
Why it matters
Villarreal's Champions League qualification raises the profile of the appointment and links it to a fixed timeline: the Rayo final dictates when talks can formally close. Pérez has built his reputation at Rayo by guiding the club to a European final, and his arrival would mark a step up to a UCL-bound side rather than a lateral move within LaLiga. The delay also keeps Rayo's bench stable through their biggest match of the season.
What to watch
Watch for the date and result of Rayo Vallecano's Conference League final, after which a formal Villarreal announcement is expected. Any complication in the final or counter-bid from another UCL club would be the first sign this timeline slips.