Zinedine Zidane has reportedly turned down long-standing interest from Manchester United after reaching a verbal agreement to manage the French national team following the 2026 World Cup.
Zinedine Zidane is reportedly finalizing a verbal agreement to succeed Didier Deschamps as France manager after the 2026 World Cup.
This move effectively ends years of speculation linking the former Real Madrid boss to Manchester United.
Zidane previously expressed hesitation regarding the Premier League due to language barriers, stating: “I understand English but I don’t fully master it… I work differently.”
The 53-year-old has remained out of management since 2021, strategically waiting for the national team vacancy.
While United recently appointed Michael Carrick on a temporary basis, Zidane’s focus remains on Les Bleus.
He recently reaffirmed his long-term ambitions, telling the Festival dello Sport: “My feeling is that I want to be able to coach the national team in the future… I would like to one day.”