Zinedine Zidane’s feelings on Man Utd job before ‘verbal agreement’ | Football | Sport

Zinedine Zidane’s reported commitment to managing France after the World Cup is set to put to rest once and for all talk of him taking charge at Manchester United. Claims surfaced this week suggesting Zidane has struck a verbal agreement to assume control of the France national side after this summer’s World Cup across the USA, Canada and Mexico.

His former international colleague, Didier Deschamps, currently holds the role, though his deal is due to end once the tournament finishes. Deschamps, 57, has guided Les Bleus since 2012, steering them to consecutive World Cup finals and triumph in 2018.

Nevertheless, there’s been mounting belief in recent years that Zidane has been biding his time in the background, ready to step in once Deschamps departs. The 53-year-old has remained out of the dugout since leaving Real Madrid for a second time in 2021.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

The former Ballon d’Or winner’s remarkable first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu from 2016 to 2018 yielded nine honours, including three successive Champions League crowns. Those coaching achievements haven’t faded from memory during his five-year absence from football, with persistent links to the United position stretching back to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s sacking.

That scenario repeated itself ahead of Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford in 2024 and yet again earlier this campaign. Zidane has previously spoken publicly about the prospect of managing United.

Back in 2022, when questioned about potentially accepting a Premier League position, the 1998 World Cup winner told L’Equipe: “Never say never. Especially when you are a coach today. If I go back to a club, it is to win. I say this with all modesty.

“That’s why I can’t just go anywhere. For other reasons, too. Certain conditions make things more difficult. When someone says to me, ‘Do you want to go to Manchester [United]?’ I understand English but I don’t fully master it.

“I know there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language but I work differently. To win, many elements come into play. It’s a global context. I know what I need to win.

“Of course, I might not always win but I know that you need to have this, this and this. And I want to do everything on my side to optimise my chances of victory.”

Another former France international who played alongside Zidane, Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit, subsequently stoked rumours regarding the iconic midfielder’s possible switch to United by hinting he had been studying English.

Petit said: “If you are a manager of a football club, you need to speak different languages. I know Zinedine speaks different languages but, I’m pretty sure English is not one of them.

“There are so many examples of wrong decisions in football, not necessarily the wrong decision about someone’s ability, but about the dressing room being a right fit given all the different nationalities.

“Communication is very important, so if you do not speak the language when you arrive at a club like Manchester United, that could be a big problem.

“I’ve been told that he has been learning English recently, so I think he knows it’s important for his career. But Zinedine being linked with Manchester United, I don’t believe it, to be honest.”

Zidane, not one to seek the limelight, attracted attention by surprisingly turning up at a Real Betis training session in 2024, fuelling speculation that the former Real Madrid manager was gearing up for a comeback.

Nevertheless, it transpired that the training session was the first time his son, Elyaz, had practised with the senior squad since leaving Real Madrid.

His name has recently resurfaced as a possible contender for the United position, which becomes available at the end of this campaign. Last month, Michael Carrick was appointed to lead the Red Devils on a temporary basis, sparking speculation about who will assume the role on a permanent basis next summer.

Nevertheless, even prior to the latest reports of an arrangement being finalised with France, ultimately putting paid to speculation about a switch to United, Zidane restated his ambition to oversee the national side. “I will definitely return,” Zidane declared during an appearance at Festival dello Sport in Trento last year.

“In terms of the future, I don’t know. My feeling is that I want to be able to coach the national team in the future, even though I don’t mean right now. I would like to one day, but we’ll see.”

When addressing his position on making a return to management earlier this season, Zidane confirmed: “It will happen soon. Very soon.”