Former Real Madrid player Zinedine Zidane is set to have a more involved role at the La Liga outfit and could be on the bench alongside manager Jose Mourinho next week.
Marca claims that Zidane met with Real president Florentino Perez and general manager Jorge Valdano to finalise a new role and the former World Cup winner could be in the dugout for the Champions League match against Milan at the San Siro on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, Mourinho told French TV channel TF1: “Zidane should be close to the pitch and less in the directors’ offices. I would like to see him more with me and less with Florentino.”
Zidane, who joined Real in 2001 for a then-world record fee of €75 million and retired after the World Cup in 2006, responded by praising the Portuguese coach.
“Speaking with Mourinho, one realises that he knows perfectly where he is going and how he is going to get there,” he told Direct Soir. “I do not have the slightest doubt: Real Madrid needed someone like him.
“Everybody says that he is a very kind man. I would have loved him to have trained me at some point in my career.”
Marca claimed the 38-year-old would act as Mourinho’s “right-hand man” from the dugout.
Zidane said: “I will be the avenue between the first team and the president. I would like to participate more in the life of the club.”
