Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe (left) finds it difficult to bring Zidane (middle) to replace Ten Hag. Photo: Football365

“I understand English, but I don’t really speak it fluently,” Zidane told French newspaper L’Equipe on September 9. “So I can’t coach Man Utd or any team in England. I know there are many coaches who work despite the language barrier, but my style is not like that.”

Zidane believes that communication with players is the key to his success in his coaching career, including three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid from 2016-2018. Center back Sergio Ramos and striker Cristiano Ronaldo have both praised the French coach’s ability to manage people.

Zidane has not taken on any new job since leaving Real for the second time in 2021. Apart from this club, he has never managed any other team in his career. According to British newspaper talkSPORT , Man Utd and Chelsea contacted Zidane to invite him to become a coach, but he refused.

“It takes a lot of factors to win in football. And I know what it takes to achieve success,” he added.

Zidane has played in France, Italy and Spain, so he is fluent in these three languages. Therefore, the 52-year-old coach will have a high chance of leading Ligue 1, Serie A or La Liga teams. Juventus or PSG are the next possible destinations for the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner. However, French media believe that Zidane is waiting to lead the French national team, when coach Didier Deschamps’ contract expires in the summer of 2026.

Man Utd are still working with coach Erik ten Hag, and his contract will also expire in the summer of 2026. The “Red Devils” have never had a French coach. Their recent coaches are all foreigners, but fluent in English such as Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Ralf Rangnick or Ten Hag. In particular, Ten Hag still has difficulty expressing his wishes in interviews with the British media.