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Zinedine Zidane: To be or not to be at Old Trafford Updated for February 2025

Zidane quits Real Madrid

Updated: 13th February 2025

As rumoured, Zinedine Zidane is still a candidate for the manager's hot seat at Old Trafford, something that seems to be upsetting Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president , no end.

Perez wanted Zidane to take “at least a year away” from top-level management following his departure from the Santiago Bernabeu and is irked at prospect of the Frenchman returning to the fray so soon.

Zidane who managed Real through three UEFA Champion League titles has been described by Joe Short of the Daily Express as a “viable option” for Manchester United.

Sunday Mirror's John Richardson has also hinted that the possible advent of Zidane at Old Trafford could bring in players like Real Madrid mid-field pair Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez, Bayern Munich play-maker Thiago Alcantara and striker Edinson Cavani of Paris Saint-Germain, all of whom are said to be on the French legend's wish list.

Contrary to his one-year sabbatical from coaching, Zidane has hinted that he could make a quick return to the profession. “I am sure that I will coach again before long. This is what I like and what I have done all my life.” said the ex-Los Blancos manager.

Meanwhile at the Old Trafford, tensions between Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Jose Mourinho had mounted to the extent that the Portuguese manager failed to land a center-back in this summer's transfer market.

Woodward even put his foot down on Mourinho's move to bring in defenders Harry Maguire of Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld, this apart from blocking a sale of forward Anthony Martial.

Although fans of United have been buoyed by the team's recent 2-0 over Burnley, an acid test awaits the Red Devils at the Vicarage Road on Saturday that could very well decided the course of Mourinho's tenure at Old Trafford.

The 55-year old manager is under immense pressure to revert to a more attacking and result-oriented style of play which is understandable when the side has talent upfront in the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez as well as play-maker Paul Pogba.

The match against Watford on the 15th could be a watershed moment for Mourinho. The Hornets have got their best start ever to a season winning all their 4 Premier League games and could be a handful at home as Tottenham learnt the hard way a forthnight ago courtesy a 1-2 defeat.

If United were to win this one, it would take a lot of pressure off Mourinho and probably Zidane will just have to wait then. The Red Devils would be going into easier outings after the Watford one, those being against Wolverhampton Wanderers at home and a beleaguered West Ham after that.

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