Former World Cup winner Marcel Desailly has revealed that Zinedine Zidane rejected lucrative offers from Manchester United and Chelsea, claiming his former France teammate is holding out for the national team job.
According to Desailly, both Premier League giants offered Zidane a "blank cheque" to secure his services, but the three-time Champions League-winning coach turned them down.
"Will Zinedine Zidane be tempted by Saudi Arabia? 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," Desailly told Oddspedia.
Eyes on Les Bleus
Desailly, who played alongside Zidane in France's 1998 World Cup-winning team, suggested that his former teammate has specific career ambitions that go beyond financial gain.
"He likes to travel and always keeps an eye on the France national team," Desailly explained, adding that Zidane is "ready" to take over the national team as current manager Didier Deschamps has "started the transition."
Zidane has been without a managerial role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021 after his second spell at the club. During his tenure with the Spanish giants, he led them to three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, establishing himself as one of the most successful coaches in recent history.
The revelation comes amid ongoing speculation about the future of several high-profile managerial positions in European football, with both Manchester United and Chelsea having experienced periods of instability in recent seasons.
For France, Deschamps remains in charge after leading the team to the 2022 World Cup final, but at 55 years old and having been at the helm since 2012, questions about succession planning are beginning to emerge.
Zidane's apparent patience suggests he may be waiting for the perfect opportunity rather than rushing back into management, with the France job potentially representing the ideal next step in his illustrious career.
