Zidane risks the wrath of Madrid fans as PSG knock
If Zidane was joining a club like Manchester United, Bayern Munich or Juventus then it would be news that Real Madrid fans could expect and understand
It has been expected for some time that Mauricio Pochettino wouldn't coach Paris Saint-Germain in the 2022/23 season, yet what nobody anticipated was a return to club coaching by Zinedine Zidane.
The latest information suggests that the former Real Madrid coach is the chosen candidate to replace the Argentine, beating competition from Christophe Galtier and Jose Mourinho.
If Zidane was joining a club like Manchester United, Bayern Munich or Juventus then it would be news that Real Madrid fans could expect and understand.
They are all clubs with huge European pedigree and history, and all have their appealing points to potential coaches.
Yet, in partnering with Nasser Al-Khelaifi and PSG, Zidane is going to need forgiveness from Real Madrid, given the new state of rivalry between the two clubs.
PSG have just dealt Real Madrid a hammer blow by utilising intense political pressure to re-sign Kylian Mbappe to a contract renewal, despite Los Blancos having done an unbelievable amount of work to persuade him to sign for the Spanish champions.
That was a big enough blow, but for the favourite son of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu to immediately go and coach him in direct competition with Los Merengues? That is too heavy a blow.
Conspiracies will swirl. Mbappe knew Zidane was coming and stayed. Zidane persuaded Mbappe to stay in Paris, knowing about the job, and he chose to stick the knife in to his former employers... the club where he enjoys legendary status.
There is, of course, the chance that all these instances are coincidence, and Zidane had no input into the decision of Mbappe to reject Real Madrid... but nobody can know for sure.PSG push for Zidane, his relationship with Real Madrid is strained
The Frenchman is the main suitor to succeed Pochettino
Even French president Emmanuel Macron has publicly expressed his desire to see Zidane work with a French club, as he had previously done with Kylian Mbappe, whom he advised to renew his contract with PSG.
The Ligue 1 club have decided to push for Zidane's appointment, with the French coach having revealed in the past that he wants to coach Les Blues.
The financial offer and the possibility of taking over a project that offers him control are the factors that could lure the three-time Champions League winner to PSG.
