In a conversation with one of his former Real Madrid teammates, Zinedine Zidane is said to have named the “only three roles” he would accept.
The 52-year-old, who has been out of work since leaving Los Blancos for a second time in 2021, has since been linked with a host of high-profile roles, including the France job.
Earlier this year, he turned down the chance to manage Algeria’s national team, despite being ‘flattered’ by the interest shown in him as they looked to replace Djamel Belmadi.
And at one stage, it also looked like he was under consideration for the Brazil post.
But more than any other job at international level, links to Manchester United have lingered as Erik ten Hag‘s future continues to be a talking point.
Back in March, French publication Foot Mercato reported that Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS “dreams” of replacing Erik ten Hag with Zidane.
Jean-Claude Blanc, the CEO of INEOS Sport, has been a long-term admirer of Zidane and even attempted to recruit the Frenchman during his time at Paris Saint-Germain.
So where will he end up? As rumours continue to swirl, former Los Blancos teammate Thomas Gravesen gave a fascinating insight into Zidane‘s frame of mind.
Back in February, he told Discovery+: “I spoke to Zidane in Madrid two years ago and he told me that there are only three roles that he would like to accept.
“And they are Marseille, Madrid and the French team. We were in Madrid two years ago and he told me exactly that. I also asked him if he was willing to coach again. And he told me that there were no possibilities for these three.”
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Gravesen also brought up the previously mentioned links around the United job, adding: “I would say that the team he had in Madrid was fantastic, and he was prepared from the beginning.
“In the United the situation is different, it is very difficult to do something with the team that Ten Hag has at the moment.”
Zidane has rarely commented on speculation but back in 2021, as he continued to be linked with United following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he addressed the rumours in an interview with L’Equipe.
“Would I want to go to Manchester [United]? I understand English, but I’m not completely fluent in it,” he said.
“I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way. Many elements come into play in order to win, it is a global context. I know what I need to win.”