Former Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, has expressed admiration and a desire to coach and mentor Kylian Mbappe upon his return to the coaching realm. In a recent interview with L’Equipe at an event in Aix-en-Provence, Zidane revealed his readiness to resume his managerial career after a two-year hiatus since departing from the helm of Real Madrid in May 2021.
The Times reported that an anonymous individual paid Manchester City £30 million to conceal tax payments if the Manchester-based club received money from the benefactor. While not specifying the next destination, Zidane hinted at the possibility of coaching Kylian Mbappe someday. He stated, “As a coach, naturally, you want to lead players like Mbappe. Many things can happen in the future. Mbappe is also a member of the French national team.”
Whether at the club level or on the international stage, I admire what he is doing. Mbappe’s style of play is captivating, and he possesses great strength. I hope Mbappe will win many Ballon d’Or titles in the future.”
In the past, Zidane has frequently expressed his admiration for Mbappe, and more recently, he openly supported the PSG superstar’s quest for multiple Ballon d’Or awards in the future.
Zidane has not returned to coaching since his departure from Real Madrid in 2021. The future of Zinedine Zidane as a manager has garnered significant attention, and recently, he hinted at the ambition of coaching Mbappe.
Zidane’s statement unintentionally reveals hints about his potential next destination. Given the current circumstances, to coach Mbappe, Zidane can only take charge of the French national team or PSG. The 51-year-old legend has previously turned down offers to coach PSG.
Therefore, it is likely that he will move to Mbappe’s next club, and that club could be none other than Real Madrid, the dream team of the 24-year-old forward.
The former French international midfielder has previously expressed his desire to spend more time with his family and await a suitable project. With the news of Carlo Ancelotti leaving Real Madrid to take charge of the Brazilian national team next summer, Zidane is expected to return to the Bernabeu at that time.
On PSG’s side, the reigning Ligue 1 champions are currently searching for a new head coach to replace Christophe Galtier, and former Spanish national team coach Luis Enrique is a strong candidate. Zidane has also been linked to coaching the French national team, but this possibility seems unlikely as Didier Deschamps recently extended his contract until 2026.
According to AS, the French manager is the top priority to lead the new generation of Los Blancos, with Mbappe as the flagship player. This dynamic duo is expected to join Real Madrid in early 2024.
Earlier this month, Mbappe announced that he would not extend his contract with PSG, which expires in the summer of 2024. This forces the French club to sell the 24-year-old forward this summer unless they want to risk losing him for nothing. Some sources in France suggest that PSG has agreed to sell Mbappe to Real Madrid for a record-breaking fee of $271 million.
Will Zidane and Mbappe unite at Real Madrid? If this were to happen, Zidane could work alongside Mbappe at Real Madrid, the only club he has managed in two separate stints: 2016-2018 and 2019-2021. Zidane previously led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles in the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 seasons. This is the coveted title that Mbappe desires the most and is missing from his collection.
The potential connection between Zidane and Mbappe holds immense significance for Real Madrid. Zidane’s aspiration to mentor Mbappe, coupled with their shared history at Real Madrid, where they achieved remarkable success, creates a captivating narrative. Football fans eagerly await the outcome of this intriguing possibility, as Mbappe seeks to add the coveted Champions League trophy to his list of accomplishments with the guidance of Zidane.
