Zinedine Zidane has finally broken his silence on the persistent rumours linking him with the Manchester United managerial position, explaining that his limited English was a key factor in his decision not to pursue the role. The 49-year-old Frenchman, who has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid a year ago, was heavily tipped to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford last November.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, Zidane admitted: 'I understand English, but I'm not completely fluent in it. I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way.' He emphasised that winning requires a global context and that he knows what he needs to succeed.
The former Real Madrid boss, who led the club to three consecutive Champions League titles, was never a serious candidate for the United job, which eventually went to Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis before Erik ten Hag was appointed permanently. Zidane's connections with former Real players Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo at United had fuelled speculation, but the language barrier proved insurmountable.
Zidane also revealed that there are only 'two or three' teams he would realistically consider coaching, effectively ruling out a Premier League move. Instead, he is likely to be waiting for the French national team job, with Didier Deschamps potentially leaving after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and a third stint at Real Madrid are also seen as possible future destinations.
