Zinedine Zidane is learning English as he thinks it will be “important for his career”, while he has also rejected one club to heighten his Manchester United manager links
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Zinedine Zidane casually drops in for five-a-side match
Zinedine Zidane appears to be edging closer to the Manchester United job as one of his former teammates claims he is learning English.
The France legend, 49, has also reportedly turned down the opportunity to manage in the Middle East as he bides his time before returning to the dugout.
Zidane has been a free agent since leaving Real Madrid at the end of last season, bringing to an end his second spell with Los Blancos.
The legendary ex-playmaker is one of the leading contenders to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Old Trafford chiefs growing increasingly resolved to making a change.
Zidane has an impeccable CV despite his relative inexperience as a manager, winning three Champions League titles and La Liga during a blistering two-and-a-half year stint with Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018.
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He returned to the club less than one year after his departure and won another La Liga title before stepping away from the role once again.
Zidane’s status in the game means he can likely pick when and where he will manage next, and he has already turned down a lucrative opportunity at Al Sadd.
That is according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, which claims the Qatari club wanted the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner to succeed Xavi after the latter was appointed Barcelona manager in early November.
Meanwhile, in a further boost to United, Zidane is also learning English as he believes it is “important for his career”.
That is according to his fellow World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit, who told Bookmakers.co.uk: “If you are a manager of a football club you need to speak different languages.
“There are so many examples of wrong decisions in football – not necessarily the wrong decision about someone’s ability, but about the dressing room being a right fit given all the different nationalities.
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“Communication is very important, so if you do not speak the language when you arrive at a club like Manchester United, that could be a big problem.
“I’ve been told that he has been learning English recently, so I think he knows it’s important for his career, but Zinedine being linked with Manchester United – I don’t believe it, to be honest.
“Of course, he’s a big name but he never played in the Premier League and has very little connection with it, so as I said, I don’t believe it.”
