Zinedine Zidane's stance on managing Man United has already been made clear by his agent

Whenever a Manchester United manager is on shaky ground, two legendary words pop up – Zinedine Zidane.

The France and Real Madrid icon has been linked with United numerous times over the years, towards the end of Jose Mourinho's tenure, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got the chop and now, albeit more loosely, with Erik ten Hag clinging onto his job following a torrid start to the season.

Whenever a job at an elite-level club comes up – or is close to being available – Zidane’s name is usually chucked into the frame. The closest he has come to joining United was following Solskjaer’s dismissal, only for the World Cup and Euros winner to rule himself out.

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Reports in France suggest he is being lined up to replace Didier Deschamps as his nation's boss. Given Deschamps has won the World Cup as both a player and manager, appointing a figure of Zidane's standing would make sense.

However, according to French outlet RMC, Deschamps isn't planning to step down soon as he is eager to avoid Zidane trampling over his legacy. Therefore, United may have a free shot at Zidane should Ten Hag be let go in the coming weeks.

However, Zidane and his agent’s previous remarks about United and English football in general suggest the finest player of his generation won’t be setting foot in the home dugout at Old Trafford anytime soon.

There was a window of opportunity in 2018 between Zidane's two spells at Real. However, his agent, Alain Migliaccio, warned at the time: "I do not think that he will manage in England. It is much less his style. I have discussed it with him, it does not really attract him."

Fast forward to 2021 and Zidane was again linked with United following Solskjaer’s sacking, only for the man himself, who speaks limited English, to point out why it wasn’t the job for him.

"Would I want to go to Manchester [United]? I understand English, but I’m not completely fluent in it,” he told French outlet L'Equipe. “I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way. Many elements come into play in order to win, it is a global context. I know what I need to win."

Unless Zidane has brushed up on his English, United may again have to look elsewhere, with Thomas Tuchel still in the club’s thoughts having held talks in the summer before Ten Hag was given a stay of execution.

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