Zinedine Zidane has dropped interest in taking over at Manchester United because according to him there is a massive rebuild he believes needs to take place thus his preference to return to Juventus.
Zidane, who won three consecutive Champions League titles before leaving Real Madrid last May, has been noted as the stand-out candidate to replace Jose Mourinho should Ed Woodward pull the trigger.
The Red Devils have endured their joint-worst start to a Premier League season, picking up just 10 points and getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Derby County.
The Frenchman was believed to be waiting in the wings – and even learning English – but now French newspaper Le Parisien claims Zidane is having second thoughts.
According to relatives, the 46-year-old is extremely reluctant to take over such a disordered club in the middle of the season.
The United job has become something of a poisoned chalice, with Mourinho the latest manager to struggle in the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson's awesome dominance, and the Frenchman fears it could be too great a risk to his image.
He would also like better to return to Juventus, which is his dream job and loves the idea of bringing a first Champions League trophy to Turin since the 1995-96 season.
If Zidane does drop the idea of managing United, it would leave few proven managers for the club to turn to in the event that Mourinho does not solve United's worrying form.
Already there are talks that Antonio Conte is being considered for United job.
Photo: Daily Star
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
