“It has to be him”, will Zinedine Zidane light the cauldron in the Old Port?

If we know the first torchbearer of the Olympic flame, Florent Manaudou, the identity of the person who will set the cauldron ablaze is still unknown.

It is a persistent rumor. So much so that if it’s not him, “the one who lights it will be disgusted”, swimmer Camille Lacourt had fun on the France 2 set Wednesday afternoon. The name of Zinedine Zidane has been mentioned several times to carry the Olympic flame. Around the Old Port this Wednesday, many people want to see world champion Zizou, one of the best players in the history of football, take over from Florent Manaudou. The swimmer from Marseille will be the first to carry the torch as soon as the Belem docks.

>> LIVE. Olympic flame in Marseille: is Zinedine Zidane the mystery torchbearer?

“It has to be Zidane, he’s the symbol of Marseille, if it’s him everyone jumps for joy” enthuses Jessy, interviewed by our colleagues from AFP. This 21-year-old worker came from Istres to witness the arrival of the Belem and the Olympic flame at the Old Port of Marseille.

“It would be symbolic, it’s the Marseille player who represents Marseille well”commented his former teammate Robert Pirès on the Télématin set on Wednesday. “It would be good for the Olympics if Zizou was there today, it would be a beautiful image.”

This is not the first time that the former international has been at the center of rumors. His name was mentioned in April to be the first torchbearer, before the organization announced that the role fell to swimmer Florent Manaudou. His name has also been mentioned several times to coach Olympique de Marseille.

On the Marseille town hall side, we deny the rumor. Invited this Tuesday on RMC, Samia Ghali, deputy mayor of Marseille, said “no, we certainly won’t see Zinedine Zidaneshe said. At the same time, you will have other Marseille champions who made Marseille shine, like Didier Drogba, whom the Marseille people love, and me too. Jean-Pierre Papin, Basile Boli, Louisa Necib, we have Colette, the oldest OM supporter. There are characters. For some, they are not athletes, but they are people who have brought something to the city, to France. “

This Thursday, the newspaper

Questioned by BFMTV, the president of the organizing committee for the 2024 Olympic Games, Tony Estanguet. “The rumors, the fantasies, I do not confirm them […] Watch tonight, you won’t be disappointed with the surprises that await you.”

Questioned in France 3 Provence-Alpes 12/13, the Mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan recalled the criteria for choosing the torchbearers: “People from Marseille who resemble the city and who bring together, known and lesser known, who represent the history of our city.”

But where is Zinedine Zidane right now? The coach, who lives in Spain, was in Miami at least until May 4 for the Formula 1 Grand Prix. But the native of Castellane would have had plenty of time to take a plane to return in time.

Which profile other than Zidane could correspond to these two mystery torchbearers? The rapper Jul, the most listened to singer in France? Footballer Eric Cantona? The comedian Titoff? Four people know about it, assures Camille Lacourt. To find out, you will have to attend the arrival of the flame at 7 p.m. at the Vieux Port.