Zinedine Zidane, the Frenchman who managed Real Madrid twice, most recently from 2019 to 2021, is reportedly on the verge of a coaching comeback with a major European club. Since leaving Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, Zidane has been without a team and is now interested in taking over the French national team, though this has not yet been confirmed.
Meanwhile, it seems that Real Madrid is not planning any coaching changes in the immediate future. Zidane’s potential return would also be complicated by Xabi Alonso, who is gaining valuable experience at Bayer Leverkusen and is viewed as a top candidate to succeed Carlo Ancelotti.
However, these developments do not rule out Zidane’s return to coaching. According to *The Sun*, he has been in regular discussions with Manchester City’s management about possibly succeeding Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. Club officials believe Zidane would be the perfect choice to lead the team following Guardiola’s successful reign, during which he won numerous titles. Additionally, the new sports director at Manchester City consulted Guardiola about Zidane as a successor, to which Guardiola responded positively, stating, “Zidane is the ideal replacement for me in the team.”
The article concluded by mentioning that Zidane has advised Manchester City management to target Real Madrid star Rodrygo as his first signing if he decides to join the club. However, a significant challenge for Manchester City in securing Zidane’s commitment is his dislike for the UK’s cold climate and the language barrier, which he finds uncomfortable. Despite this, he has begun to consider the offer.
Real Madrid is currently facing significant technical and psychological challenges, having struggled with weak performances since the start of the season. The team’s heavy defeat to Barcelona, losing by four goals, has further compounded these issues.
The problems go beyond technical difficulties, impacting the players’ morale, especially after Vinicius Junior lost the Ballon d’Or to Rodri, a standout player for Manchester City and the Spanish national team.
Reports from the Spanish media indicate that star player Jude Bellingham is frustrated with the club management. He feels overlooked as a potential Golden Ball candidate, with the focus instead placed on Vinicius Junior.
There has been considerable backlash regarding Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win, with Real Madrid perceiving Vinicius’ loss as a slight. Some club officials believe that Dani Carvajal would have been a more deserving winner had Vinicius not been the preferred choice.
Additionally, Bellingham appears to be the first casualty of the potential arrival of Kylian Mbappe at the Bernabeu. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly working to manage Bellingham’s frustration, encouraging him to concentrate on supporting the team during this difficult time.
Meanwhile, there is ongoing speculation about how Mbappe and Vinicius would complement each other on the pitch, with Vinicius maintaining his forward position while Mbappe might take on a deeper role.
