Man Utd gave Zinedine Zidane a blank cheque to take over as manager.. he's not in it for money, says Premier League icon
ZINEDINE Zidane rejected a blank cheque to join Manchester United as manager, according to his old team-mate.
Former Chelsea centre-back Marcel Desailly also adamantly revealed that Zidane is NOT driven by cash - which is something the ex-Ballon d'Or winner proved this week.
3
Zidane has been approached by some of the biggest clubs in the world since quitting Real Madrid after failing to win a trophy in 2021.
The World Cup icon, 52, was heavily linked with a move to Man Utd before, during and after Erik ten Hag 's rollercoaster two years.
One of the reasons he supposedly turned Old Trafford chiefs down was because he didn't feel confident speaking English.
A few years on and ahead of the upcoming 32-team Club World Cup, Zizou was offered an eye-watering £84million to commit to a one-year contract at Saudi Pro League runners-up Al-Hilal.
And his former team-mate Desailiy has revealed how difficult it is for club's to persuade him to join, and where he's likely to go next.
"Well he had a blank cheque on the table from Chelsea and a blank cheque from Manchester United and turned them down.
"He isn't in it for the money. I don't see why money will change anything, I know privately that he won't change his lifestyle.
"He likes to travel and always keeps an eye on the France national team. He's ready because Didier Deschamps has started the transition.
" France will be one of the favourites for the World Cup and win or lose it's not the end of this era for France."
Zinedine Zidane suffers embarrassing wardrobe malfunction as he brings out Champions League trophy at Wembley
Zidane is the only manager in the world to have won a staggering three Champions League titles in a row during his first spell with Real.
And he followed that up by lifting two LaLiga titles during his second stint, having only managed the Spanish giants.
Desailiy believes that Zidane is most attracted to the France job because they have a new generation of superstars, including Champions League hero Desire Doue.
He added: Since 2016, France have been growing and growing. New players have come into the team constantly and now they have the right guys.
" Rayan Cherki is one of them alongside Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe is still there and on top of his game.
"There is a real dynamic. William Saliba is in defence with Ibrahima Konate, Bayern have Dayot Upamecano.
"There is a squad and a philosophy and Zidane will know how to take that on to rebuild his own team. For another eight years at least France will be at the top level in Europe."
Zidane made a £4MILLION investment into a new sport project in February, which turned out to be a new padel centre in France.
3
Zidane's managerial career
Zizou spent 18 months in charge of Real Madrid Castilla before being given his shot at the big time following the sacking of Rafael Benitez.
Zidane, 51, took charge of the first team in January 2016 and guided them to a second-place finish in his maiden season at the Bernabeu helm.
But he went one better in the Champions League, sealing Real's 11th European Cup triumph with a shootout victory over Atletico Madrid.
The former Los Blancos star went one better in the league in the 2016-17 season, in which they also won the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup.
A second successive Champions League triumph also followed, with Real beating Italian giants Juventus at the Principality Stadium.
He would create history the following season by becoming the first manager to win the tournament three times on the bounce.
A 3-1 win over Liverpool saw Real become the first team to win Europe's elite club competition three times in a row.
Zidane announced his resignation five days after the final, insisting the club needed a "change" of direction.
He would return to the Bernabeu in March 2019 following Santiago Solari and Julen Lopetegui's short reigns.
A return to the summit of Spanish football would follow in the 2019-20 season, in which Real also scooped the Spanish Super Cup.
Zidane would leave the Bernabeu again in June 2021 after overseeing Real's first trophyless season in 11 years.
Zinedine Zidane's Honours:
- La Liga: 2016–17, 2019–20
- Supercopa de España: 2017, 2019–20
- UEFA Champions League: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
- UEFA Super Cup: 2016, 2017
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
Sporting Witness Goalie v Gull
Dutch goalkeeper Eddy Treijtel played for Rotterdam giants, Feyenoord, more than 300 times. But one of his most talked about moments happened during a game against city rivals Sparta Rotterdam, in 1970. His goal kick, meant to pick out a striker, instead hit and killed a seagull. The dead bird was later stuffed and now resides in the club's museum. Eddy tells Johnny I'Anson about the moment that would go down in football folklore. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You'll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women's World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football's biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who've had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: Seagull. Credit: Thomas Winz)
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd ready for £65m Viktor Gyokeres deal as star declares Old Trafford desire
Manchester United are under pressure to operate intelligently in the transfer market as Ruben Amorim attempts to turnaround his team's fortunes with the help of pre-season Manchester United have a pivotal summer ahead in order to quickly turnaround their fortunes. There is no European football and no excuses next season and Ruben Amorim must hit the ground running to prove himself as United boss. The Portuguese coach is set for his first pre-season in charge of the club and will be hopeful of seeing an improvement. Of course, transfers in and out of Old Trafford will be required. United have already signed Matheus Cunha and are pushing for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo. T he Red Devils have upped their bid to £60million for the latter having splashed £62.5m on Cunha. And there are the exits of Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho to arrange. No easy task. Mirror Football takes a look at the latest transfer news and rumours around Old Trafford. Man Utd ready for Gyokeres move Manchester United are in position to make a move Viktor Gyokeres and could leap ahead of Arsenal. Speculation over a move to Old Trafford has been rife since Ruben Amorim's arrival, though missing out on European football was expected to be a blow. It is understood that the Swede has not be peturbed however and is open to the move. Gyokeres is valued at around £65m, a figure shy of his releasee clause after the forward made an agreement with Sporting to reman last summer. With Arsenal occupied by Benjamin Sesko currently, it is reported United have financially readied themselves to do a deal. Sancho stance Jadon Sancho has no intention of wearing Manchester United colours again per ESPN, despite Chelsea footing up £5m to avoid signing him on a permanent deal. And that stance matches that of his head coach, Ruben Amorim, though the pair have yet to work together. Sancho returned five goals and 10 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea, helping them win the Conference League. The winger failed to set the world alight at Stamford Bridge however, leaving interest in his signature uncertain. There is said to be tentative interest from West Ham in a deal but Sancho's wages are likely to prove problematic. The former Borussia Dortmund has another year left on his contract with United. Defender speaks on Man Utd desire Former Paris Saint-Germain defender Thomas Meunier has admitted he would have loved to make a move to Manchester United. The Lille full-back, 33, has revealed he would quickly accept a transfer to the club if it was on the table. The Belgian international, who has one year remaining on his contract, also appears to accept that any chance of a deal is now gone. Meunir conceded a move to the 13-times Premier League champions could damage his affection for the club. Meunier told Gazet van Antwerpen: 'If they ever ask me, I'll cycle there [United]. But maybe it's better this way. "Suppose I play there and have a bad time. I wouldn't want to hate Manchester United, because I love that club so much. 'I went to watch them a few weeks ago, against Bilbao. In with the fans, singing fully. I am a real one. I go to watch them at least once every season. "But of all the home games I've seen in all those years, they've only won two. You have to have a self-cruelty side to be a United supporter, right?"
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Thomas Tuchel unhappy with lack of quality in England win against Andorra
Harry Kane finally gave the 6,950 travelling fans something to cheer about when he broke the deadlock early in the second half, turning in lively Noni Madueke's cross, but the expected goals onslaught did not follow. 'I am not happy with the performance, of course,' German coach Tuchel said on ITV1. A 1-0 win for the #ThreeLions in Barcelona 👊 — England (@England) June 7, 2025 'We started quite well in the first 20-25 minutes, which was the only part where I had the feeling it was only a matter of time, we created a lot of half-chances and from set-pieces, that we will score and keep on going. 'But we lost completely the momentum and couldn't get it back through the whole of the first half. 'We got a little bit of it back in the first 15 minutes of the second half and then ended up in a period which was by far not good enough – lack of urgency, lack of quality and lack of energy.' England play a friendly against Senegal in Nottingham on Tuesday night and Tuchel is expecting a much-improved display. 'We can just admit it that it's not what we expect from us and we need to do better,' the England boss added. 'We need a bit of time to look at it in detail and address it clearly and directly to be better on Tuesday.' Tuchel was also not happy with how England finished the match. 'We have to play until the 93rd minute. I didn't like the lack of urgency in the end,' he said. 'It did not match the occasion at all, it is still a qualifier away from home, I didn't like it at all. 'The players know all I said to you, because I said it in the dressing room, but it is also necessary to have a look in detail, watch the match again, and then we will let them know tomorrow what we want from them.' England captain Kane accepted it 'wasn't the greatest performance'. The Bayern Munich forward added: 'I don't think many people will remember this one but we can learn from it. 'It is very hot here, a dry pitch, probably similar conditions to maybe next year at the World Cup, so we will go away and analyse. 'We had good spells in the game but we couldn't have attack after attack. We take the three points and we move on.' "Some of the players looked bored" 🥱 Roy Keane and Karen Carney reflect on an underwhelming England victory against Andorra #ITVFootball | #ThreeLions — ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 7, 2025 England's listless display did not sit well with former Republic of Ireland international Roy Keane, who offered a scathing post-match analysis. 'We try and make excuses for England with the end of the season and it's been tough on the players,' the former Manchester United midfielder said on ITV1. 'I thought the first half was okay but when they scored the goal it felt it was job done. 'I was really disappointed with England's attitude after the goal went in. The manager can't be happy with that effort in the last half an hour. 'I felt like some of the players looked like they got bored in the last half an hour and I don't like to see that.'
