After Zidane’s snub PSG turn to Nice coach
Zidane has spent a year out of the game after his departure from Madrid last May
Football legend Zinedine Zidane will not take charge at PSG this summer, according to reports, as he is set on becoming France boss after the World Cup.
In an interview with Telefoot, the former Real Madrid boss opened up on his desire to keep coaching, but did not comment on where his next destination might be.
Sportsmail previously reported that Zidane was PSG's first-choice name to replace Mauricio Pochettino, who is expected to be officially sacked in the coming days.
Club chiefs are believed to be keen to appoint a new manager with a proven track record of success in the Champions League, the trophy which has alluded them.
But the tactician has given nothing away when casting his mind forward.
'I want to continue, I still have this flame, football is my passion,' he told Telefoot. 'I'm 50 years old, fulfilled, I'm happy, that's the most important thing.
Zidane has spent a year out of the game after his departure from Madrid last May.
In doing so, he left for the second time, but guided them to a hat-trick of Champions League victories during his first spell in charge and won 11 trophies in total.
Since his step into unemployment, the World Cup winner has been linked with a number of high-profile jobs, including at the helm of the France national team.
He is set to miss out on the looming PSG vacancy, however. Nice boss Christophe Galtier is in the driving seat, it is believed, and he is expected to take charge.
Indeed, according to RMC Sport, Zidane is set on coaching the French national side after the 2022 World Cup, and therefore has rejected PSG's advances.
The same publication adds that he is not fully closing the door on the club.
That comes despite reports indicating a deal with Zidane had already been finalised.
Mundo Deportivo claimed that Zidane was quickly earmarked as Pochettino's successor, with the switch 'closed' ahead of him flying out to the Far East.
There, he was said to have met with club directors to tie up the finer details of his contract and discuss plans for next season - although negotiations later collapsed.
PSG are in the process of making major changes across the club after tying down superstar Kylian Mbappe to a new deal and deciding to sack Pochettino.
The former Tottenham boss won the Ligue 1 title but failed to deliver the Champions League, despite his all-star line-up also featuring Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Off the field, Luis Campos was unveiled as PSG's new football advisor.
