Real Madrid president believes Zinedine Zidane wants Man Utd job… and he's ANGRY
Posted Thursday, September 13, 2018 by Express.co.uk
Zinedine Zidane to Manchester United: Perez is reportedly surprised Zidane could replace Mourinho (Image: GETTY)
ZINEDINE ZIDANE'S plans to manage Manchester United have raised the ire of his former boss, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Zidane quit Real Madrid after less than three years in charge of the club back in June.
The decision to leave came after he guided Real to a third consecutive Champions League triumph.
Zidane cited exhaustion as his reason for leaving the Bernabeu, despite Perez’s wishes that he stay on.
The Frenchman was expected to take a year-long sabbatical but there is increasing speculation he could be set to replace Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.
And news of Zidane’s plans to return to football earlier than expected has filtered back to Perez.
According to Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, Zidane has ‘disturbed’ Real president Perez with his intentions of returning to management.
Perez is said to be disheartened that Zidane is not taking at least a year away from elite club football.
The Frenchman recently confirmed he is looking for a new job, saying: "Surely soon I will return to training, because I like it and it's what I've done all my life.”
And Perez has joined the dots, believing Zidane is all set to be appointed as United boss after reports emerged that the Red Devils have contacted the former France star regarding a possible future vacancy.
Pressure is building at Old Trafford over the future of Mourinho, who has cut a frustrated figure since the end of last summer.
Manchester United laboured to secure new signings for Mourinho in pre-season, landing just three first-team players.
They have lost two of their four Premier League games at the start of the campaign and are already off the pace of frontrunners and title challengers Liverpool and Chelsea.
El Confidencial claim Mourinho is ‘on a tightrope’ and a switch to Zidane is a viable option.
The boss would likely bring in a different approach to Mourinho’s school-master style that appears to have exhausted the players in recent months.
There is talk of deals for Toni Kroos, Thiago Alcantara, James Rodriguez and Edison Cavani if Zidane came in.
Zidane supposedly has offers from other clubs, with France’s Ligue 1 a division he would like to manage in.
But PSG’s position is filled by Thomas Tuchel, while Lyon have excelled with Bruno Genesio in the hot seat for the past three years.
A chance to manage the France national side was suggested before the World Cup but Didier Deschamps’ job is more than secure following Les Bleus’ victory in Russia this summer.
The report claims Zidane is biding his time and waiting for Jose Mourinho to get the axe, knowing he is first choice at United.
However, any decision by the United board is not expected to come for some time.
After all, Mourinho has been backed with over £300m of new signings over the two years he has been at the club.
He has guided United to League Cup and Europa League triumphs already, while the club finished second behind Manchester City last term.
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