In an interview with Le Figaro, the former PSG leader warned the 1998 world champion: the time is not yet right to take charge of the Seleçao.
The former sporting director of Paris Saint-Germain Leonardo has always had “enormous”, boundless admiration for Zinedine Zidane. “As a player he had such qualities in his game… Gestures that everyone remembers and it is no coincidence that he scored goals in the World Cup or Champions League finals. He was unique on the field.” The former manager of the Parisian club not only shares a certain taste for elegance with the 1998 world champion, he is also, like him, very attached to discretion, and like the 1998 Ballon d'or, he has also learned patience.
His return to football? “When I find something where I feel emotions. The project has to be interesting,” he says in an extensive interview with Le Figaro. Just like the 1994 world champion, Zidane does not seem in a hurry to bounce back, three years after his departure from Real Madrid. His name has come up regularly every time a major European player was looking for a coach in recent months, even if this has been a little less the case recently. Zidane stays away from the benches, waiting for the ideal opportunity to present itself.
“Zidane’s future is the French team”
The 1998 world champion would like to return to the world of football but not just anywhere. His name has circulated in Europe to occupy the bench of several major European clubs, from Bayern Munich to Manchester United via Paris Saint-Germain. The architect of the Merengue club's three Champions Leagues in a row from 2016 to 2018 was even approached by prestigious selections, including Brazil. The Seleçao saw itself entrusting him with the keys to the Auriverde selection to take over from Tite, but Zidane declined the proposal. And he did well, according to Leonardo.
“Compared to Brazil, the moment is difficult because there are training problems in the federation,” recalls the former midfielder or left back of Brazil. “It is perhaps not the best for Zidane to come at the head of the Brazilian selection (smile). Zidane's future is the French team, not Brazil. It is more logical. ” But to see him one day in this position, he would already have to become available. However, Didier Deschamps is hanging on to it. In office since 2012, the current coach of the Blues is under contract until the 2026 World Cup, after which he could stop, or come back, depending on the progress of the Blues and the choices of the Federation.
