Reports that Fabio Capello had peddled his services to Tottenham Hotspur and been turned down were greeted with bewilderment in his native Italy. As the story gathered steam, different versions emerged, each less plausible than the previous.

One early version had Capello in London on Wednesday evening. Had that been true, the former Real Madrid coach would certainly confirm his reputation as a man blessed with remarkable powers . . . including the ability to be in two places, thousands of miles apart, at the same time.

For Capello has signed on as a pundit with RAI, the Italian state broadcaster, and on Wednesday night he was in Budapest, playing the part of the Italian Mark Lawrenson, dissecting the world champions’ humiliating 3-1 defeat by Hungary in their friendly international.

“He flew out with us on Monday afternoon and flew back after the game Wednesday night, arriving back in Italy in the early hours of Thursday morning,” one Italian journalist, who had been on the official press trip with him, said. “I spoke to him. I even touched him. I can confirm it was the real Fabio Capello, not a hologram or an impostor.”

Calls to Capello were not returned last night. But a source close to him dismissed the story as sheer fantasy. He added that Capello had enough respect for his colleagues that he would not go and meet with a club behind their current manager’s back. Indeed, Capello was on the receiving end of such behaviour last season at Real Madrid, when the club met repeatedly with Bernd Schuster, his successor, while he was still at the helm.

Beyond the denials, official or otherwise, there are plenty of other reasons to doubt the veracity of the story. For a start, Capello has indicated very clearly that he plans to take time off this year – after managing for eight consecutive seasons – much as he did in 1998-99, when he filled his time travelling the world, collecting art and engaging in the odd spot of television punditry.

It’s also highly unlikely that Capello would accept a job after the start of the season. One of his hallmarks has been a meticulous preseason preparation, often in some remote location. It is especially unlikely too that he would accept a job this late in August, with only a few days left in the transfer window and little chance to mould the squad with players of his choice.

And then there is the issue of pedigree. Capello has only managed four clubs in his career: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus and AS Roma, at a time when they had the financial clout to compete with the biggest sides in Europe. Having already proved he can turn a perennial underachiever into a winner at Roma, why would he feel the need to do it again by taking the Tottenham job?

Money would not come into it. Capello is already fabulously wealthy, partly from his earnings, partly from his shrewd investments (including his art dealing). In his past 15 seasons of management, he was won nine league titles, seven in Italy, two in Spain. Why would a 61-year-old manager with nothing left to prove not only put his record on the line, but do so in such difficult circumstances?

The only plausible explanation may be that, as sometimes happens, somebody claiming to act on Capello’s behalf contacted Spurs and offered his services. Given that Capello does not have an agent and deals directly with clubs, it may be that this individual (assuming he or she exists) was hoping to approach Capello and work out a deal for himself (or herself) once Spurs had registered their interest. It is a possible explanation. But also one that is a long way off suggesting that Capello had approached Spurs directly and offered himself as their next manager.