Paris Saint-Germain sounding out Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane
The French club want a coach who can manage the dressing room egos
Zidane's success in the Champions League is also a huge draw for them
There are five months until the end of the season but clubs are already looking to the summer. SPORT have learned that Paris Saint-Germain have made contact with Zinedine Zidane to find out if he would be interested in taking over next season.
Unai Emery's future is hanging by a thread after the results achieved last season, when they were knocked out of the Champions League and missed out on the league title to Monaco. There have been improvements this season following the signings of Neymar and Mbappe. But the harmony in the dressing room is not ideal and there have been a number of incidents which have cast doubts upon Emery's leadership.
PSG have realised that more than anything they need a man manager, someone to handle the egos in the squad, which is where Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane comes in.
Emery, who has a deal until the end of the season, will leave PSG if they don't progress in the Champions League. The Ligue 1 title will bot be another. The barometer is Europe.
The money spend on Neymar (222 million) and Mbappe (180m) increased the team's potential in the summer and president Nasser Al Khelaifi expectes results. If they're not forthcoming, Emery will go. That's why the club are looking for a replacement and Zidane is best placed. The president has been in contact to sound out the possibility.
THREE REASONS
There are three aspects in Zidane's favour: (1) His impressive honours at Madrid, including two Champions League, the trophy PSG desire most. (2) His ability to manage the world's top players, as he's hown at Madrid. (3) His nationality is also a plus because PSG have always tried to keep a French identity. That's why they have made signings like Mbappe and Lassana Diarra in the past.
The move for Zidane has gained strength due to Madrid's results this season. There's a long way to go, though, and both sides are still alive in Europe -- where they will meet each other.
MADRID LOOKING
Zidane has a deal with Madrid until 2020 but the club would not see a change as a bad thing. Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino is a possible replacement. Florentino Perez likes him and also is a fan of Spurs striker Harry Kane, the top scorer in European football. Perez has not made any moves this month as he's waiting to see who the team finish the campaign.
In recent weeks, though, the differences between Perez and Zidane have become public and the relationship has become tense due to the policy over signings. Perez wanted Athletic goalkeeper Kepa but Zidane didn't and that could prove to be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
