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Man Utd spoke to Zinedine Zidane before appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - ESPN pundit
MANCHESTER UNITED would have contacted Zinedine Zidane over replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho before appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim boss.
Man Utd contacted Zidane before Solskjaer claims Hislop
That is the opinion of ESPN FC pundit and former West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.
Zidane has been out of a job since leaving Real Madrid at the end of last season.
The France legend has been linked with taking over at Manchester United and more recently Chelsea, due to the increased pressure on Blues boss Maurizio Sarri.
Hislop was asked by ESPN presenter Dan Thomas whether Zidane, if he received a phone call from Chelsea, would take a job at Stamford Bridge on an interim basis until the end of the season.
You don’t think that when Man United sacked Mourinho they called Zidane? I think so
Hislop is adamant Zidane has already turned down offers, including that of United before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came into the role.
“I’m sure he’s had many a phone call since leaving Real Madrid, very similar to that,” he said.
“I’m sure he had that call from Manchester United.
“You don’t think that when Man United sacked Mourinho they called Zidane? I think so.”
Sarri’s long-term future at Chelsea is in doubt after Blues fans turned on the Italian during the 2-0 FA Cup fifth round loss to Manchester United on Monday.
Zidane is the favourite to replace Sarri if he was to be relieved of his duties.
But Hislop does not think Chelsea and the former Real Madrid boss would be a match made in heaven.
“Very, very slim,” Hislop said of Zidane’s chances of joining Chelsea.
“I just feel Zidane is going to go somewhere, and he’ll have his choice of clubs.
“I don’t see Chelsea in the same echelons as the kind of clubs that would be interested in Zidane.
“I don’t see Chelsea or [Roman] Abramovich spending that kind of money that other clubs would spend on Zidane.”
After knocking out Chelsea, United will face a trip to Wolves in the FA Cup quarter-final.
The tie will take place over the weekend of March 16 and 17.