The Millions Zidane Will Earn to Manage Manchester United

ZINEDINE ZIDANE has been in constant talks with one of Manchester United's trusted chiefs. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team continue to weigh up what to do with Erik ten Hag's future after holding crunch talks during the international break.

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It is estimated that the Frenchman could pocket an annual net salary of between €8.5 million and €12 million, a figure that would place him among the highest-paid managers in the world."

Whenever the managerial position at Manchester United seems unstable, one iconic name is inevitably linked: Zinedine Zidane. The French and Real Madrid legend has been associated with the Red Devils on numerous occasions over the years, towards the end of Jose Mourinho’s reign, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking, and now, albeit more vaguely, as Erik ten Hag struggles to keep his position after a disastrous start to the season.

Zidane’s name tends to crop up whenever a vacancy arises at a top-flight club or seems likely to. The closest he came to joining United was after Solskjaer’s departure, but the World Cup and European Championship winner ruled himself out.

He is reportedly being considered as a replacement for Didier Deschamps as the French national team coach. Considering Deschamps' two World Cup victories, both as a player and a coach, it seems logical to appoint someone of Zidane's stature.

However, according to French media outlet RMC, Deschamps has no plans to resign anytime soon as he wishes to avoid Zidane overshadowing his legacy. As a result, if Ten Hag is sacked in the coming weeks, United could have an unobstructed opportunity to secure Zidane.

Despite the allure of Manchester United, Zidane and his agent have previously hinted that the Premier League might not be his passion. There was a time in 2018 when Zidane could have taken the reins at Old Trafford during the interval between his spells at Real Madrid.

But his agent, Alain Migliaccio, was very clear: "I don't think he can succeed in England. It's much less his style. I've spoken to him, but he's not too attracted to it."

The Importance of Language for Zidane

In 2021, Zidane's name resurfaced as a possible successor following Solskjaer's departure. However, Zidane himself, who is not entirely comfortable with English, explained why he was not the right candidate for him.

“Would I like to go to Manchester United? I understand English, but I don’t speak it fluently,” he revealed to L’Equipe. “I know there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way. There are many elements that come into play to win, it’s a global context. I know what I need to win.”

Unless Zizou has been polishing his English skills, it seems United might need to redirect their gaze, possibly towards Thomas Tuchel, who was considered last summer before Ten Hag’s tenure was extended.

Note: To complete the article, you can add more details about the potential salary Zidane would earn, the reasons why Manchester United might be interested in him, and the challenges he would face if he were to take the job. You could also include quotes from other sources, such as current or former Manchester United players or pundits.