Zidane’s joblessness worries ex-teammate as current state declared ‘problematic’

Emmanuel Petit, who won the 1998 FIFA World Cup alongside Zinedine Zidane, has questioned the ex-Real Madrid man’s future in football management.

Emmanuel Petit, a former international teammate of Zinédine Zidane, has expressed concerns about Zidane's managerial path since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.

Zidane has been linked with various managerial roles at high-profile clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Juventus, and Olympique de Marseille, but there has been no progress in talks with any of the clubs, leaving Zidane without an option for his short-term future.

Zidane's ambition to manage the French national team is well known, and he was thought to be a potential candidate after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but to the surprise of many, Didier Deschamps extended his contract with France until 2026.

Additionally, Carlo Ancelotti extended his contract with Real Madrid until 2026, closing another potential opportunity for Zidane to return to an old flame.

Petit, who has also played for Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona, raised concerns about the impact of Zidane's prolonged absence from a managerial role, comparing it to a player being out of the game for an extended period and suggesting that it could be problematic for Zidane's career.

Furthermore, Petit also dismissed the rumours of Zidane going to Chelsea, indicating that Zidane's future does not lie in England. He pointed out that Zidane prefers a more polished and technical game and that the language barrier could be a significant issue in England, where the dressing room is often multi-national.

These insights from Petit provide a glimpse into the considerations that might be influencing Zidane's decision-making regarding his next move in his managerial career​​​​​​.