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Zinedine Zidane has reportedly agreed a return to football management – if Newcastle's owners get their way.
The former Real Madrid manager has allegedly reached an agreement to become the next manager of Marseille if the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) successfully acquires the club. Since leaving the Bernabeu in the summer of 2021, Zidane has been without a managerial position, and there were previous rumours linking him to the Manchester United job. However, he dismissed any potential move to English football.
Zidane, who enjoyed tremendous success during his tenure at Real Madrid, winning three Champions League titles and two La Liga titles, has expressed his desire to return to management on numerous occasions.
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Although French president Emmanuel Macron has expressed his hopes of persuading Zidane to join a Ligue 1 team, the former midfielder seems uninterested in a move to Paris Saint-Germain, the arch-rivals of his hometown club Marseille. And now, according to a report from France Bleu Provence via the Mirror, Zidane has a theoretical agreement in place with the PIF, who also owns Newcastle United.
The PIF aims to take over Marseille from current owner Frank McCourt. However, McCourt is currently unwilling to sell the club.
The PIF sees Marseille as an ideal acquisition due to its status and reputation in French football. With Qatar already owning PSG through Qatari Sports Investment (QSI), the PIF would back Marseille financially to compete not only domestically but also in Europe.
Despite being linked with a potential third spell as the manager of Real Madrid amid uncertainty over Carlo Ancelotti's future, Zidane's return to Los Blancos seems unlikely at this time.
Ancelotti is expected to remain in charge until the end of the season, after which the club will likely pursue a new direction. Zidane has previously stated that he is only interested in managing clubs where he has an emotional connection, including his former clubs Real Madrid and Juventus, as well as Marseille, his childhood team.
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In a recent interview, Zidane hinted at his readiness to contribute as a coach, saying: "Am I still able to contribute things as a coach? Yes, many things, or I think at least some!"
It is clear that Zidane is selective about his next managerial role and seeks an appointment where he can invest emotionally. Alongside the potential Marseille opportunity, Zidane's name has also been linked with top Premier League clubs. However, it remains to be seen where he will ultimately land.
This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, which speed up Dailystar.co.uk 's editorial research. A content editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors [email protected]
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