Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Could Zinedine Zidane make shock return to Real Madrid if players get their way?
ZINEDINE ZIDANE is the man Real Madrid’s players want to replace Julen Lopetegui as manager, according to reports in Spain.
Antonio Conte 'in talks' with Real Madrid claims pundit
Lopetegui was sacked on Monday following Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing by rivals Barcelona in El Clasico.
Real Madrid B team coach Santiago Solari has taken over in the interim, while former Chelsea and Juventus chief Antonio Conte is the runaway favourite to takeover from Lopetegui full-time.
But Spanish media outlet Sport claim senior stars like Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos are desperate for their old boss to make an emotional return.
Zidane left in the summer shortly after guiding the club to their third Champions League title in a row, citing a “need for a change”.
However, the club are now in a desperate state - languishing in ninth in La Liga and seven points off leaders Barca after only ten matches.
They remain in pole position in their Champions League group and are on course to qualify as winners in Group G.
And the players are now reported to want Zidane to come and salvage something from their season.
Sport also claim a return is unlikely with both Zidane and club president Florentino Perez reluctant to reunite.
Reports in The Sun say the club wil turn to Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino instead.
Pochettino’s representatives are said to have met with Real officials, who reported to Perez that discussions went well.
The Spurs boss is reported to be a more popular choice among the players, who are not keen on Conte.
The Italian fell out with long-term Real transfer target Eden Hazard when the pair were at Chelsea - despite winning the Premier League title together in 2016-17.
Meanwhile, club captain Ramos appeared to aim a dig at Conte’s man-management style when quizzed on his imminent arrival.
"Respect is earned, it is not imposed. Neither a name nor another,” he said.
"We have won everything with coaches that you already know, in the end the management of the players is more important than the technical knowledge of a coach."