Julen Lopetegui: I'd be Wolves boss now if it wasn't for Spain

The Spaniard dramatically reneged on an agreement he had with Wolves' new owners Fosun and super agent Jorge Mendes.

He was announced as Spain's new boss on Thursday afternoon - and within an hour Wolves' takeover had been confirmed.

Lopetegui also said Kenny Jackett had behaved in an 'exemplary' manner.

And in a Sky Sports article it was suggested that Li was the main man behind "the group" that has taken charge at Molineux.

"We were looking forward to working with a great project, looking to build the future, but the truth is when your country calls you, obviously everything changes," Lopetegui said.

"I was very keen to come to England. There were so many positives. Wolves are a great, historic club, with fantastic fans, with an infrastructure to become (one) of the great clubs.

"I was waiting to hear about an agreement that I had in place about what was an incredibly attractive and exciting project at Wolves.

"Certainly if the Spanish job hadn't come up, I know I would now be coach at Wolverhampton."

Lopetegui was first linked with the Wolves post some weeks ago.

Yet Jackett, who has had to endure endless speculation about his position and his supposed successor, has remained dignified throughout.

He remains in charge for today's friendly trip to Port Vale, with his future still very much up in the air.

Lopetegui admitted the situation had been an uncomfortable one.

And he added: "I know how difficult it can be to carry on as normal with all this going around and I want to put on record my maximum respect for him and all his staff throughout this whole situation.

"The timing was not down to me, and Mr Jackett behaved throughout it all in a magnificent exemplary manner."