Zinedine Zidane 'would need two assurances' to accept Man Utd manager offer

Emmanuel Petit, a France World Cup winner, has claimed that Zinedine Zidane would require a series of assurances from Sir Jim Ratcliffe before he’d even contemplate taking the reins at Manchester United.

The Real Madrid legend is “very conscious” about player quality and would need to be convinced he can tackle the issues at Old Trafford.

Petit has indicated that Zidane would only entertain an offer if he’s confident in addressing the current challenges facing the club.

Despite this, concerns over the squad’s quality and potential language barriers could hinder his potential appointment.

Amidst a flurry of speculation, Zidane has been recently linked with the managerial position at Old Trafford, as Erik ten Hag braces for Brentford amidst scrutiny following a disappointing season start.

With just three wins out of 11 in all competitions and two from seven in the Premier League, the pressure is mounting.

Zidane’s name is not new in the context of a possible saviour for the Red Devils, and with Didier Deschamps showing no signs of vacating the French national team’s helm, the rumour mill is abuzz yet again.

Nonetheless, speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Petit expressed scepticism about the likelihood of Zidane making such a move.

He mused over whether Zidane would be willing to leave his comfortable life in Madrid, stating: “I’m not sure that he speaks very good English as well. And communication is very important in the dressing room.”

The Red Devils’ struggle to replicate their heyday success since the departure of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 has been palpable, with the club clinching just five top-four finishes since then. Their alarming eighth-place finish in the previous season marks the lowest in their Premier League history.

Despite bagging five major trophies during this time, including the 2016 Europa League, United’s presence has been markedly absent beyond the Champions League quarter-finals.

For Zidane, tipped by some as a potential saviour amid United’s current slump to 14th in the table and a three-game goal drought, Old Trafford might not hold much allure, suggests former French international Emmanuel Petit.

Petit opines that ‘Zizou’, who boasts an illustrious managerial record with Real Madrid, would demand solid assurances before contemplating a switch to the Manchester side.

He added: “Honestly, I know a little bit, Zizou [Zidane], and he needs to get guarantees if he wants to sign over there in Manchester United. At the moment, the environment at Manchester United for years has not been good.”

According to Petit, the lack of stability on the United bench, questions over player quality, and diminished expectations present a stark contrast to the club’s past glories. As such, Zidane is acutely aware and cautious about the level of talent he would be working with.

He further commented: “Could he manage to overturn the situation over there? I think the only answer is yes. But at the moment, when you look at the team, I’m not convinced at all about the level of some players.

“So if I am Zizou, I think it will be very easy, actually, to answer this question [of joining United]. If I don’t speak English on top of it, that will be more problems in terms of communication in the dressing room.”

“If he takes the job at Manchester United, that means he’s got solutions. At the moment, I’m not sure a lot of people have the solution to turn the situation at Manchester United.”