The Real Madrid and France legend has long been tipped to take over at Manchester United
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane has not worked in football since 2021(Image: Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Premier League icon Nicolas Anelka doesn't believe that Zinedine Zidane will take over at Manchester United this summer. While Michael Carrick is excelling in his position as interim boss after the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January, the club's links to Zidane have not diminished.
Zidane has long been rumoured as a potential candidate at Old Trafford, with talk of the iconic former Real Madrid midfielder taking over dating back as far as 2018.
However, former Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea star Anelka has poured cold water on any chances of the legendary Frenchman joining United.
Anelka believes the Madrid icon is heading to the national team instead, with long-term coach Didier Deschamps set to stand down after this summer's World Cup.
Speaking to Spanish radio show Carrusel Canalla, Anelka said: "I don't know if it's official, but I think it will be Zidane. Everyone says it will be him, and he's the best choice; he proved it at Real Madrid. He was a good coach. He will be a good leader for the French players."
Zidane has a stunning CV, winning three Champions League titles and La Liga during a two-and-a-half-year stint with Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018. 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 was linked with the United manager's job towards the end of Jose Mourinho's spell in 2018. However, the ex-Juventus' star's agent, Alain Migliaccio, previously claimed that "it does not really attract him" when discussing the prospect of Zidane managing in the Premier League.
He added: "I do not think that he will manage in England. It is much less his style. I have discussed it with him." However, with Zidane still out of work since leaving Real in 2021, there is the possibility his stance has softened when it comes to taking a job in England.
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane has been linked with a managerial job(Image: Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
View 3 Images
In 2022, when asked if he would consider taking a Premier League job, the 1998 World Cup winner told L'Equipe: "Never say never. Especially when you are a coach today. If I go back to a club, it is to win. I say this with all modesty."
Zidane does appear to have a healthy respect for United too. The Frenchman acquiesced to the idea of selling Raphael Varane to United when he was in charge of Los Blancos.
The Red Devils were linked with the centre-back for some time, with then-United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a big fan. While Real could have kicked up a fuss, with Varane in the last year of his deal, Zidane reportedly smoothed over negotiations so the French World Cup winner could make a seamless move to Manchester.
There was also the intriguing fact that Zidane was thought to have been learning English around 2021, according to ex-Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit. However, the former French international didn't believe United was the right fit for Zidane.
Nicholas Anelka in his Real Madrid days
Nicholas Anelka in his Real Madrid days(Image: Bongarts)
View 3 Images
"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," Petit said.
"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."
United could have the answer to their recent managerial woes already in their dugout, however. Carrick has revealed that he is relishing his time at United amid the growing belief that the job is now his to lose.
Asked about his chances of getting the job permanently, the 44-year-old replied: "There's no getting away from the situation, of course.
"There's not really an awful lot I can say about it to be honest. I love being here. I love doing what I'm doing. We'll just have to see where it ends up."
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Content cannot be displayed without consent