Madrid: Zinedine Zidane has indicated his desire to return to management soon.
The former France midfielder has been taking a break since resigning as Real Madrid manager in May after guiding the Spanish giants to a third successive Champions League title during his two-and-a-half years at the club. Zidane is the favourite to replace Jose Mourinho at Manchester United if the Portuguese departs and he has suggested he is getting ready to return.
“Yes, surely. Soon I will return to training because it is what I like and is what I have done all my life,” Zidane told Spanish broadcaster TVE.
Zidane is understood to be interested in the prospect of taking over at United should Mourinho leave, although Mourinho, for now, retains the backing of Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman.
A senior source at United said last month: “Why would we discuss Zidane when there is no job available?”
After back-to-back defeats by Brighton and Tottenham, United eased mounting pressure on Mourinho with an impressive 2-0 win at Burnley last week.
Mourinho told Italian reporters after the game he did not think his job was under threat and joked it would cost the club too much to sack him. Mourinho’s relationship with Woodward and players came under strain during a troubled pre-season, but Woodward has been keen to dismiss talk of a rift despite clear differences over the direction of the team in the transfer market.
United face Watford, who have won their first four league games, at Vicarage Road on Saturday evening.
